Combarbalá

So this week was pretty interesting. We went to a place called Combarbalá. So that you guys can understand a little about what that means, we need to understand a little bit of the backstory.

I don't know exactly if it happened like this, but this is how I imagine it happened. One day Elder Hunsaker (US) and Elder Ortellado (Argentina), both zone leaders, recieved a call from Presidente Díaz. I don't know exactly what he said in that call, but I imagine it was something like this, "Elders, I have a special job for you." He then explained that they were going to establish the church in a little town called Combarbalá, about 2 hours from the city of Ovalle.

There have never been missionaries in Combarbalá, untill about 6 months ago. Elder Hunsaker and Elder Ortellado were the first missionaries to set foot in Combarbalá. The first thing they had to do was find some place to live, and find a place to meet on Sundays. They found a pretty big house, and now that serves as their house/chapel. They started out with nothing, and yesterday 20 people went to their Sunday meetings.

Elder Hunsaker and Elder Ortellado have already finnished their missions, and now in Combarbalá are Elder McCracken, the former assistant to the president, from Highland Utah, and Elder Crapo, former executive secretary to the president, also from Utah.

The people are really different there. I found that out really quick, because we went around asking people if they would like to hear a message about Jesus Christ, and they would say something like, "Sure, come on in!" There have been very few times in my mission when people have done that, but there was a lot of that in the one night I was in Combarbalá. I know that the Elders are doing a great job in Combarbalá, and the Lord has prepared those people to receive the Gospel.

And speaking of Combarbalá, they just had a baptism. Her name is Cecilia, and they travelled 2 hours from Combarbalá to Ovalle, because in Combarbalá there's no baptismal font. It was so great to see the support from all the members there. It was really great to see that.

Well, this is the last week until transfers, so I'll let you guys know what happens. I miss you all!