Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving! everyone! Things are going good down here in Ovalle. I cant believe that my first change is already over! It sure flew by. Only 15 more changes to go ;)
So I played the piano for the primary program yesterday in Sacrament meeting. It went well and the kids did really good. I thought it was going to be hard keeping them quiet and sitting still but they were really good. So Juan, the boy we baptized a couple weeks ago passed the Sacrament yesterday which was pretty cool. We found a family to teach this past week. I dont know if I told you about them already but we taught (did) a kid´s english homework for them one night so we went back and asked if we could share a message with them.
Another cool thing that happened was way back in the beginning of my stay here in Ovalle I went on splits with Elder Smith from another district and we taught this lady and she accepted a baptisimal date. She had me pray both times. Well my companion had to do the baptizimal interview so we went down there with Elder Smith and Villagra and she had me say the opening prayer again! She is getting baptized this weekend.
Well that is about all the excitement that has been going on. I guess I will tell you all where I am at next week but I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving! Eat some turkey for me and some ranch dressing too...(unheard of down here...) okay, love you all lots! Oh, happy Birthday Zach! Hope it was a good one. Thought about ya yesterday and how things are going. Hope all is well.

Love, Elder Jaren Nelson

My First Earthquake

So during the lesson, i had my first earthquake experience. It was only like 10 seconds long and just a little rumbling but it scared me because we were on the third floor of an apartment complex which is the highest building in our sector.

Happy Birthday Zach!

Hey Zach! Happy Birthday!!!

Here are some pics of the top of our sector looking over the other side away from the city. here are all the vinyards and orchards. Things are going good for me out here and my spanish is getting better. The members are noticing. I am staying busy and am always tired. Well it is good to hear things are going good up there and that gas prices are going down. I am sick of people telling me ganó Obama. (Obama won). Ya think? Haha. Hey Mom, tell Zach happy birthday this Sunday for me. The cards here are lame and don't come with any envelopes.

Take care and I love you all! Talk to you next week!

Hey! Dad....there are Jazz Fans in Chile too!

This guy i saw walking and we tracked him down from like a block away. He bought the jersey down in the feria (fleamarket) for 1 mil. (2 bucks)

First Baptism!

My First Baptism. Juan Cerda - 13 years old.

My new friend - Nacho

and....round #2 for smooth legs! All 4 elders in our pension decided to go for the smooth legs.

Hello Everyone!
Things are going good for me here down in Ovalle, Chile. It is really getting hot down here! This has been a pretty event-filled week. The highlight of it was definatly Friday night. I had my first baptism. His name is Juan Cerda. He is a 13 yr. Old boy. The other youth in the branch were a big part of him coming into the church. They are such a support for him. Well kind of a funny thing happened that evening during the service. I was conducting the music and the closing hymn was True To The Faith...anyways, on the part where it switches from the verse to the chorus by saying no! (or yes!) I didnt see the rest there and infront of everyone sung out NO! Haha... everyone started laughing and the young women were rolling laughing... Pretty embarassing if you ask me but its all good. So Juan was confirmed yesterday in Sacrament Meeting. Elder Schneider baptized and confirmed him. I was a witness for the baptism and then stood in with the Branch President for the confirmation. We were also asked yesterday to stand in with the Branch President for a baby blessing. That was cool. So our chapel that is in our sector is being remodeled as of earlier this week so we have to go to the chapel in the sector right next to us. At first, it was going to be at 5 in the afternoon until 8 . It was changed Saturday night to only 12 noon which is better I guess but we wont be eating lunch until like 4 now. It was kinda of funny telling people when doing contacting that our church would be at five in the afternoon and seeing their faces...haha.
I am out of time now but i will have a good story for next week. Talk to you all later! Love you all! Thanks for everything!

Yeah! Pictures from Chile

City of Ovalle, Chile

Another gorgeous view of Ovalle.

Cheap political signs for Marta Lobos.

Workin' feet......ouch! blisters

Elder Schneider, Me, Mission Pres. Wilhelm & wife

at our Mission conference 10-29-08