Como Estan?

Como Estan?

Its been a great week here in Atlanta Georgia! We're teaching lots and slowly but surely progressing with our investigators. Again none of them came to church, which means we definitely need to do something about that this week! 

 

As far as interesting stories go, we went to visit one of our super investigators on Friday. Her name is Angela and we found her one of my first days here. We talked with her a little bit, and she's really been going through a rough time in her life. She said that sometimes she gets really sad and lonely, but every time she feels that way, we always knock on her door! That makes me feel good because it means I really have nothing to do with this work other than being obedient and working hard, the Lord will always put us where he needs us.

 

Angela has also been reading the book of mormon and is already near the end of 1 Nephi, and she says its a beautiful book, and she believes it to be true, now all we have to do is get her to church!

The Adversary has definitely been noticed this week, and we've had to do a lot of humbling and extra work, but we hope to come back and have a crazy successful week this week! 

Just something cool about where I am serving, there is an air-force base nearby so everyday there are these giant army planes that fly right over our heads! Its really loud, but I feel like a little kid again. Every time one flies over our heads, I can't help but gawk, its so cool!

Fall is also on the way! Its still hot and humid, but there is a chilled breeze in the air! 

Anyway! Hope all is going well at home and that y'all stay safe!

Love ya

Elder Stephen Chipman

Another great week in Georgia

Hola!                                                   September 16, 2013

How are you guys? Its been another great week here in Georgia! Still very hot and sweaty, but occasionally there is a cool breeze in the air, reminding us that Fall really is on its way! It sounds like it raining like crazy at home! We haven't had rain this whole month so its kinda the opposite.

We had a lot of success this week, and have many new investigators. We're teaching a man named Miguel, who has a lot of questions, and gets frustrated when we don't answer them right when he wants them answered. But I think we finally got to a place where we can start teaching him without too much deviation. We're also teaching a wife and her son. They are both very interested and have been reading the Book of Mormon, we were unable to meet with them this weekend, but look forward to seeing them sometime soon.

As far as exciting goes, we have a giant puddle in the middle of our closet because of a leak. We reported the leak to the apartment's maintenance a few weeks ago, but apparently the are really busy. So we kinda feel like Indiana Jones jumping over this giant puddle in order to get in and out of the closet!

My Spanish is better, and its improving, but I still don't know what people say half the time. That's why I have a companion there I guess! 

Well I hope everyone is having a great week and is staying dry! Talk to ya soon!

Love

Elder Chipman

Hey Mom!                                                                                           September 16, 2013

Things have been good, and bad. It just depends on when you ask. We're working our tails off, but Hispanics in the United States are so inconsistent, that we can never teach. We have appointments dropped, or no one is there. Something always seems to happen almost every time. When we do teach, I think we do a good job. I'm a little frustrated about not being able to say what I want because I'm still learning the language, but I just need to be patient. None of our investigators showed up to church, which is hard because it makes me feel like all of our efforts aren't getting anything done, but I know that that's not true. Maybe I won't see the fruit, but we're doing good work.

Seriously, we've been working our tails off this week, and I'm pooped. We haven't played any sport in any form yet, but I'm going to really try and push for something today. 

We have had a very miracle filled week though. We've found a few families and so I know we're doing good things here! I guess I don't like having this pressure of being sent off any day because we have investigators that I want to finish off just so I know they make it. But my companion heads home at the end of this transfer, and they say most visa waiters leave near the end of the second transfer. This week is the halfway point of the transfer, so I don't know what to expect. 

I do know that they are going to get baptized; they just work all of the time. So the process is slower.

I've already found a lot of peace in the harmonica though. I can play simple hymns on it, and it calms me down right before I go to bed after everything is done. So I really do appreciate it! 

We taught a man named Miguel, and he's frustrating, because he's also taking lessons from the Jehovah's Witness's so he asks a lot of questions that are weird that we could answer, but don't build the lesson at all. He also reads their pamphlets but not ours, and says that what they say makes sense because their pamphlets explain it, and ours don't, but he doesn't read them. This week though, we brought a member named Hermano Montenegro. He studied with the JW's before he was converted, and when he told his story, he really focused on the Book of Mormon and how reading it helped him. So we think we can get in to this guy now, but I think its going to be a long process with him.

We also have been teaching a woman named Angela and her son Jordan. They were one of the first doors I knocked on here, but they are really ready to be baptized, we just need to teach them the lessons!

Anyway, stay dry, help out those people, I'll write letters and hopefully send them off before Thursday so you can actually get them!

Your Perfect Son, (Just to tick allie off)

Elder Chipman

It's been a great week here in Atlanta!

September 9,13

 

Hey Everybody! How goes it?

 

It’s been a great week here in Atlanta! We're getting a lot done and it’s been really fun! We have a lot of people with Baptismal Dates! We have one whose name is Gladis. We knocked on her door the third day I was here! It’s hard to get a hold of her which is difficult, but she came to church yesterday which makes it her second time! We also had an amazing lesson with a woman named Angela and her son Jordan. They were really interested and we set a date for September 28! Jordan said afterward that he believes everything happens for a reason, and knows that we were sent to him and his mom for a reason! So that was really exciting to see!

 

As far as Spanish goes, people still have no idea what I'm trying to say, but I can't understand them that well either! Actually it is getting better! I'm slow, but I can say what I need to, and I understand about 50% of what people say, which is good!

 

On Wednesday I went on a companionship exchange! It’s when we switch companions with another group of Elders. I went out with Elder Owens, a brand new Missionary from Sugar City Idaho! He only speaks English, so I really had to take the lead in a lot of conversations, or I guess, most of the conversations. I gained a lot of confidence from that and it really helped me feel better about Spanish! We talked to a lot of people and it was really cool!

 

Anyway, hope all is well where ever you are! I'll let y'all know if I get a visa or not, I guess we'll see!

 

Love 

Elder Chipman

Given y'all insight on my creative diet

Mission Facebook picture of  the transfer meeting

 

 

Hi everyone! Its been a good week down here in Georgia! They put me back with the Spanish Branch, which is awesome, but it only reminds me of how much Spanish I have to learn before I go to Argentina! I'm back with Elder Bakes and we've decided to walk and bike around instead of share a car with other Elders, so we get nice and sweaty every day!

Yesterday we were asked to work through Labor Day so that's why my letter is coming today, but I'm very grateful we did. Everybody was home. We were able to teach tons of lessons and bless many lives. I think I might be a little spoiled now and might be disappointed when someone doesn't open the door, but it was a great experience for the day!

Other than that the work is moving forward. As a mission we baptized 56 people in the month of August, and there are hundreds more who have a date scheduled! The work is really moving forward here in the South and I'm grateful that I can be apart of it.

I'm just grateful for the opportunity that we have to see miracles everyday. The funny thing is, is that I've seen miracles everyday my whole life, and I just didn't see them. Our Heavenly Father really loves each and every one of us, and he shows us everyday, we just need to look for the little things that he does to help us along in our lives.

Anyway enough preaching--I want to let y'all know what I usually make for myself, maybe I don't want my dad to know this, but I even find it a little amusing. There are 5 major food groups as a missionary. Quesadillas, Hotdogs, Pasta, Peanut butter, Toast, Hot Sauce. Usually I combine a couple of these to make some delicious meals, (yes I've had a hotdog and peanut butter sandwich, not that bad!) But this is what keeps my engine running right now. Just thought I would give y'all that insight!

Hope all is well, and I love you all!

Elder Chipman

Green hotdogs for the greenie

August 26, 2013

 

Well I'm only 2 days away from completing my first transfer, or my first 6 weeks! Wednesday will be the day! They are sending me back over to the Cunningham Branch which is the Spanish Branch in the same area, so I'm kinda just going back to where I started! Most people who wait for their visas go through about two transfers or 3 months before they get clearance to go, so I'm almost there! I think.

I've been enjoying English though! We had a family come to church yesterday, the Hendersons. The father is deaf and the mother is Kenyan and they have three kids! All of them came and the wife signed for the dad, but he lip reads really well, so she wasn't too busy. But we also found a ward that has a lot of resources for the dear. It’s outside of our mission boundaries, but we might send them there just so they can relax a little bit more.

We also met a lot of other people, and we have a baptism this Saturday! His name is Kamrick , and he is the son of a member who was less active when he turned 8. So his parents set up the appointments, we taught him, and that was that.

The work here is booming! The mission has had 48 baptisms in August, and the mission goal is 70. We had 24 baptisms on Saturday alone, and we will probably hit the mission goal after this next weekend. The mission president really gives us a "Vision to Baptize," and it has really motivated us to work as hard as we can!

So a fun story that happened this week, we have a sister in our ward who makes all the Greenies (new missionaries) a greenie dinner. So we had Green Hotdogs, green buns, green mac n cheese, green everything. It felt weird eating, but it tasted fine! I mean where can you go wrong with hot dogs? On a mission I guess I've expanded my menu a little bit. I've eaten Quesadillas, peanut butter sandwiches, and hotdogs---Unless members have us over. Let’s just say I love member dinners.

Anyway, hope all is well at home!

It is legal here to take road kill home to eat

Hey Everyone

It’s been a very good week with a lot of miracles seen everyday. On Friday I found out that they are planning on keeping me here in the Smyrna ward until the end of the transfer. Which really is just next Wednesday. I've kinda gotten to the point where I just need to put my trust in the lord. He knows where I can be the most useful, and I think he's just going to move me where ever he sees fit. And I guess if he can split the Red Sea, he can place me where I need to be.

I do admit though, I enjoy understanding everything. It’s very nice to be able to say what I want to say, and hear what everyone is saying, well I guess almost everything. Sometimes the southern accent is a little too much for me, but I'm trying.

We've been teaching a lot of people this week, and one thing that I've really learned is how important the Bible, along with the Book of Mormon is in our lives. I was just flipping through it the other day, and came across one of the most powerful scriptures I have ever seen. Its Romans 8: 35-39. I encourage y'all (haha I've wanted to say y'all for a long time) to look up and read this scripture, mainly because its a little too long to type, but it only takes 10 seconds to read. Seriously though, this scripture says that nothing on the earth or not on the earth can separate us from our Saviors love. Nothing. This is a comfort to me.

Everyday I seem to gain a testimony on our Saviors love for each and every one of us and it’s on a personal level.

Anyway, some fun facts about Georgia. We were at a member’s home for dinner and they have deer that come into the backyard and eat their garden. So they plan on doing what any normal, civil human being will do. They plan on waiting in a tree so they can shoot it with their friends bow and arrow. And yes they were being serious... So if I visit them again and we have deer burgers, I know why.

Also apparently it’s legal to take road kill home with you and use it as food. I guess its better than just leaving it on the side of the road, but still, I'm a little disturbed that enough people are doing it that they had to make a law about it.

Last thing, mainly for Allie, Sarah, Zach, Natalie, and Elsie: I talked with this one guy who’s from Arkansas. And without me even bringing up the topic, he talked about how many Armadillos lived there. He said that they were everywhere.

Anyway, Have a fantastic week everybody, I love you all!

Elder Chipman

I need to inform y'all on some changes

Elder Chipman at Zone Conference

So before I say too much on what has happened, I need to inform y'all on some changes that have been made. One of the English Missionaries in the area had to go home due to medical reasons. He was having troubles with some of his medication, and so needed to go home to get that fixed up. As a result, guess who is in the Smyrna Ward now, ME! For at least the next week, I will be the companion to Elder Evans teaching and preaching in English. Honestly its a little weird, you know, going to church and understanding what people are saying. I think its only temporary, they say only until Friday, but until then I'm going to be speaking in English!

That change happened on Saturday Morning, so the majority of the week was spent speaking Spanish. The only really eventful thing that happened was when Elder Bakes locked the keys in the car. We were heading in for dinner at the apartment, and as we approached the door, Elder Bakes reached in his pocket, and a stunned look came over his face. He said that he forgot the keys, and at first we thought he was kidding (He's tried to pull that stunt before) But as we went back outside, we say the keys, still sitting in the ignition. So the last three hours of the day were spent waiting for the office elders to come up and bring us the spare. We met some of our neighbors who were really nice though. She brought us cookies and sloppy joes and we were able to talk to her and her family for a little bit.

On the English side of things, I had a really cool experience. In D&C it talks about how if we are obedient, we will not be confounded. Yesterday we were knocking on doors and we met this heavily Christian Couple. The Man was 86 and started out like he wanted to bash with us about what the Bible said about Hell and Baptism, and stuff like that. We were able to turn the tables into more of a conversation than a debate. We were able to teach him a lot about the Plan of Salvation, and how we can baptize those who weren't able to be baptized in this life. We talked about the Bible, and a lot of his beliefs were the same as ours, in that through tons of translations, certain truths were lost. I was then able to bear my testimony, how we could talk and teach all day, but the only way for him to know is by Praying, Searching, and Asking our Father in Heaven. I really felt good, saying what I wanted to say, and I really felt the spirit there. It was really cool.

Anyway, things I learned from Georgia.

1. I really do sweat a lot

2. Mosquitoes are my worst enemy

3. There are actually hills (I didn't figure that out until I started riding a bike)

I'm sure that list will grow longer the longer I stay out. Any way…..

Yo se que mi Salvador vive, y yo se que el Libro de Mormon es verdadero, y podemos crecer mas cerca de dios si leyemos el Libro y oramos a DIos.

I know that my Savior lives, and I know that the Book of Mormon is true, and we can grow closer to God if we read the book and pray to god.

I lean so much every day, thanks for all of you prayers!

Elder Chipman

Ps: I'm still snacking on my hidden stash of Oreos!

 

Elder Chipman at the Atlanta Temple