Month in Santiago‏

Family and Friends, 

I can't believe that I've already been in Santiago for a month. For
those of you who know my sense of direction, or lack there of, I wish
I could say I've learned the area well. We had intercambios this week
and when I was with Hermana Clements we got a little lost. That's why
we have maps, right? Haha. Overall it was a good intercambio. One cool
thing that happened was a man walked by, saw our Book of Mormon, and
asked if it was free. When we said yes, he kinda laughed and I guess
wanted to try it out so took it right out of my hands and walked away
quickly. After realizing we were going to let him go, he turned back
around and actually listened to us for awhile.

We also taught a lesson to a new man, Victor. He is from Swaziland,
Africa and although we only had a few minutes, he loved the lesson of
the Restoration. I love when people realize how blessed we really are
to live in a time with the fullness of the gospel and its ordinances. 

We also are working as missionaries and with the president of the
district here to give a short devotional about the Atonement,
sacrament, and Sabbath Day to as many members as we can. We are
starting with the leaders and did it once to the RS president, Hermana
Etlvina. We have great stories, scriptures, quotes, and an object
lesson that all together make a powerful lesson. A lot of hard work
was put into planning it by president and I think it's going to pay
off and really help this area. 

We still only have few investigators here, but each week seem to meet
someone else new and see little miracles frequently. It's been fun
being creative in ways to reach out to people. For example, one member
offered to teach free karate classes so we went out to the city
handing out and putting up flyers for the classes. We pray many people
come and we can meet more people. Being here is stretching me and
helping me grow and learn even more. I know it's what I needed. 

I love you all lots! Have a great week! 

Love, 

Hermana Bingham 

Pretty park by our piso

 

Still not sure what this building is, but it's pretty

We went to the beach with the Bakes for pday today

13 months‏

Family and Friends, 

What a great week it's been. The first half was basically spent in
leadership training and the zone meeting. Last Monday I left with
Hermana Sykes on the train to Madrid for concilio- our leadership
meeting. It was at the mission home, and really weird to be in my
first area again without time to visit people! But it was fun to be
back. We stayed at the mission home Monday night and Tuesday for the
meeting. It was amazing. I learned so much from what was said as well
and through the Holy Ghost of specific things I can apply here in
Santiago. The zone leaders and Hermana Sykes and I planned a little
Tuesday night for what we would share in zone meeting. Stayed with
some Hermanas Tuesday night then back to the north Wednesday. It was a
long trip and I hardly slept for three days, but it was definitely
worth it. Hermana Sykes and Graff stayed with us Wednesday since the
zone meeting was in Santiago. Then after the meeting Hermanas Staker
and Jensen stayed with us for exchanges - we are trying to do them now
where both Hermanas come to our area. We had a lot of success.
Hermanas Iregui and Jensen had some great lessons and Hermana Staker
and I found some great new potentials. They left Friday afternoon, and
I was finally with my actual companion again for the last few days of
the week. 

Hermana Iregui and I found a family that has met with the missionaries
a few years ago. They are probably some of the nicest people I've met
here and hope that they find the time and have the desire to progress.
We also met with a man Hermana Staker and I contacted on the street,
Francisco Javier, who was so happy to find out that more sacred
scriptures, the Book of Mormon, exist. I've already been a witness of
the help of the Lord with His work here. 

We might be small in number
of Mormons, or even those that believe in God, but He hasn't forgotten
about his children here.

The branch president also made a comment on Sunday that I liked. He
asked us how we would prepare ourselves if we received a special
invitation to spend the day with Christ. He told us THIS is the way
that we should use the Sabbath Day. A great thing to ponder. 

Thanks for all your love and support. I love and miss you all! Hope
you have a wonderful week. 

Love, 

Hermana Bingham

Week 2 in Santiago‏

Dear family and friends,

This week we had a few great lessons. One of the less actives that we met with my first week here was having a really hard time with some personal life problems. After only one week her personality had completely changed. The lesson was great. She was smiling, laughing, and happy. She came to church for the first time in a long time this week. I love seeing the physical effect living the gospel can have. We also went out to a pueblo, over an hour in car, with the Bakes and RS president to visit a member and her husband, who isn't a member. They are very kind and we had a good time. The husband has never seemed really open to listening about our religion, but I could tell his heart was softened with the conversion story of the Relief Society president. I pray little by little we will be able to share with him.

Friday night we had a family home evening. We acted out the story of Nephi building the boat. It turned out to be pretty fun. We also have a ping pong table at the church which everyone loves.

We've done a lot more work with the branch list and area book. We have tried to be creative in thinking of new ways to find people here. Many things I did in Madrid just aren't effective here, but I'm excited about some ideas we have. I know as we work hard and follow the Spirit we will be able to find people who want to accept this wonderful message of the gospel of Jesus Christ!

Hope you all have a wonderful week!

Love,
Hermana Bingham

The view on the way to church

Little drive close to the beach

Rainy Parades

Intercambio with Hermana Walker

Valentines Day cookies!

Santiago‏

Family and Friends, 

It's been a good week. Very different, but good. Here in Santiago
there is just a small branch - yesterday there were 28 people at
church, including the baby. Our area is Santiago and a ton of little
towns surrounding it. It's a great blessing to have a senior couple
serving here with a car to help us get out to the far places. The
Bakes are awesome and a huge help. 

The truth is we currently only have a couple of people we are
teaching. I met two of them last week, Antón and Cielo. Antón is 61
and they just started teaching him. Cielo is 13 and waiting for
permission to be baptized. We also taught a new guy, Michael. Hermanas
Iregui and Baxter talked to him the other week on the street. Hermana
Iregui told me he wasn't too sure if a god even existed. So we studied
specifically to teach about our loving Heavenly Father. And the lesson
went great. Way better than I thought it would. He wants to learn
more, but with his whole family. We pray his family will be as
receptive as him. 

We had a mission tour last week as well with Elder Moreda from the
Seventy. He came and visited the two zones in the north on Friday. He
talked about a lot of things. One that specifically stuck out to me
has to do with the fact that many missionaries have the mind set that
the north is hard, there's hardly any work, and no one wants to
listen. He told us pretty boldly that if we think like this, we better
repent. We must rely on the Lord and he WILL help us find those who
are prepared to listen to the gospel. Because they are here. I hope to
do all I can to help find these people. I know as I increase my faith,
we will find them. He also said if we don't know what to talk about as
we start talking to people, testify of Christ. After the leaders of
the zones had a meeting with him. 8 missionaries, President and
Hermana Pack, and Elder Moreda and his wife. We had a question and
answer and then he gave us specific advice on working in this area.
I'm so grateful I got to be part of it. 

I hope to help His work here as I exercise my faith. I'm so grateful
to be serving here in Santiago and for everything I'm learning and the
opportunity I have to testify of Christ! 

Love you all! 

Love, 

Hermana Bingham 

Mission tour

Spanish tortilla

Santiago

I'm going to the north!‏

Dear Family and Friends, 

Well it's been a crazy week. But a good one. One thing that I was
really grateful for this week are the ward members. We had members
helping in lessons, that changed the lessons for the better. Members
inviting friends to church and family home evenings. Members helping
out at church, feeding us, sharing their testimonies, and showing lots
of their love. We also had a few service projects with members - one
helping a family move. I've grown to love the members here. I've also
learned missionary work is so much better as we work together as full
time missionaries and members. 

This week we also had appointments for some of my residency paperwork
and with the doctor that seemed to take awhile, but the missionary
work continues. We had some great lessons as well. It's a blessing to
study and teach the basic doctrine daily.

This past day has been crazy. Saturday I found out that I will be
serving in the north of Spain now, in an area called Santiago, in
Galicia. I'm going to the beautiful, green, cold, rainy north. I am
currently sitting in my 5 hour train ride. I will be companions - with
another native!! I'm so blessed to have so many native companions. Her
name is Hermana Iregui and is from Columbia. I'll be a sister training
leader for the zone there. I'm excited and pray constantly for the
help of my Heavenly Father with His work. 

I love you all lots!! 

Love,

Hermana Bingham 

LOTS of photos this week... Some of my B8 friends!