Chandler Has Been Such An Amazing Example To Me

"I know that I will miss Chandler, but I know

that we are going to see him again"

Family - 

I received a call from President Newsome on Wednesday morning, as I read the caller ID I immediately knew that it was about Chandler. Even though I knew the situation, it was still shocking to hear that he has actually passed. I really thought that he was going to pull through! As I got off the phone I went over to my desk and knelt down. I didn't know what to think, it all seemed just like a dream to me. But as I started to pray, I heard a song come on from Elder Gallachers ipod that had been playing. But right as I started to pray this song started to play, and it said, ¨When you cry be sure to dry your eyes, cause better days are sure to come... and when you smile be sure to smile wide, don't let them know that they have won... and when you walk, walk with pride! Don't show the hurt inside cause the pain will soon be gone. And when you dream, dream big... as big as the ocean blue, cause when you dream it might come true. When you dream, dream big! And when you laugh be sure to laugh out loud cause it will carry all your cares away... and when you see, see the beauty all around and in yourself... It will help you feel okay... and when you pray, pray for strength! To help you carry on when the troubles come your way... So when you dream, dream big!¨

After that until now I haven't felt anything other than peace. I know that Chandler is happy where he is, and I know that he is going to help soooo many people to be happy too! I loved the letter that Grant Amacher wrote, thank you for that. And also for the pictures. I know that I am going to miss Chandler, but I know that we are going to see him again.

I read this the day I found out that Chandler had passed away, and just felt like it explained everything that I wanted to say perfectly... (Colossians 1:2-14, 23-29) 

"To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ (which are my friends in Utah) Grace be unto you and peace, from God our father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (I) give thanks to God and the father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you. Since (I) heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, for the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the Gospel; which is come unto you, as it is in all the world, and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth."

"As ye also learned of (Chandler our dear friend), who is for you a faithful minister of Christ, who also declared unto me your love in the spirit. For this cause I also, since the day I heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God. Strengthened with all might, according the his glorious power, unto patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; giving thanks unto the father which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light. Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son. In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins."

"If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the Gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven, whereof I (Elder England) am made a (missionary); Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the chuch. Wherefore (I) am made a (missionary), according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints. To whom God would make known is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Whom (I) preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily." (Colossians 1:2-14, 23-29)

To the Webb Family, I just want you to know how much I love you and am praying for you! Chandler has been such an amazing example to me, and tons of others. I know that you will see him again! 

I am praying for all of you at home.  I hope everything else is okay. In a month from today I can skype you guys!!!!!!!!!! Okay I don't have anymore time, have a great week!  I love you all soooooo much, a lot more than you will ever know! 

Elder England

We got some new furniture but it didn't fit up the stairs so

we had to pull it up through the second floor window

Standing As A Witness Of Christ

Even though I'm not living in Utah -

My heart is still in the right place.

Hola Familia!!!

Okay I'm going to start with an experience of standing as a witness of Christ first so that I don't forget.  It's hard because really all the time we as missionaries are trying to be witnesses of Christ. Sorry I can't really think of an experience in specific, but seriously as I have tried to remember that I am a representative of Jesus Christ every second of every day for these two years it has changed EVERYTHING! Literally everything, or at least the way that I look at everything. I honestly don't feel like the same person I was 3 months ago. I don't really know what happens, but every time I talk to someone on the street I just know what to say. I don't have to think about the Spanish any more, it just flows, I'm sure that the spanish isn't that great or gramatically correct but it just flows out of me. I also feel like the people understand me a lot more, and that is probably the most important. Every time I knock on a door, I'm reminded that I really am a witness of Jesus Christ. Oh we actually knocked on this one door the other day and this older lady came to the door and said that she didn't have any time to talk because her husband is sick and she had to take care of him (I think she expected us to start preaching or teaching her something but I just asked her if we could help her in any way) And after that she opened up and listened to us talk for about 10 minutes. It really opened my eyes and I saw a change in her heart, as we tried to serve first. It reminded me of in one of the Joseph Smith movies, a lady goes up to Joseph and thanks him for all the things that Joseph and the saints had done for her and the town but she then said that she didn't want anything to do with the church. Joseph then said, ¨With all do respect that is our church¨ I have grown to love this opportunity that I have to serve every day! It fills me with such joy when I get back to the apartment exhousted, when I can truly say that I tried my best today. This is what I think about when I think of being a witness of Christ.

Guess what? Alejandra came to church this week! BOOYEAH! It was actually the district conference and was at the other church building here in Florida, but she came! President Newsome came too and gave a talk. He really emphasized the importance of the members working with the missionaries, heck yeah thank you Pres. Elder Cruz and I have been trying to work more with the members, and I feel like my relationship with a lot of the members is growing stronger and stronger. I can understand how Mace must feel right now, but for me I think that I'll be here for another 2 or 3 months because trainers are usually with their oros for 2 transfers. Anyways back to Alejandra, if everything goes to plan; which a lot of the time it doesn't, she will be baptized this Saturday. I really  think that this time is it! Oh haha she said that she saw the movie the best two years on tv on the byu channel, and she said that she did'nt know that the missionaries could baptize people. So after that she told us that she wanted me to baptize her. So that was awesome, I'm a little nervous cause she is well... kind of over weight and I'm not very strong sooooo. haha no it'll all be good... I think.  I guess we'll see this Saturday.

Things with Elder Cruz are going awesome, I really am so surprised at how fast he is learning! He is definitely learning a lot faster than I did. haha but one thing he always says is that I'm always angry. I don't feel like I am always angry but maybe I am. So I've been trying to be a lot nicer. But I can tell that these next couple of months are going to fly by, It's already the 18th of November I literally can't believe that! I looked at a picture of Maggie and me from the day I gave my fairwell talk and I seriously feel like it was yesterday! 

I'm still praying for Chandler every single day, I just know that everything is going to be okay. Marsh sent an email to all of us friends saying that we need to be bold, we can't be afraid to ask God for a miracle we can't be afraid to ask for a few more years with Chandler. I was reading about the Brother of Jared this morning and thought about what Marsh had said. The brother of Jared was'nt afraid to ask God to reach and touch the stones that he had made. He had such faith in God that he specifically asked God to do something for him. I have not just been praying that everyone will be comforted in all of this, but I have specifically been praying and pleading that Chandler will live through this. I know that God can do it, and I know that if we ask we will recieve.

I love you all so much, keep Chandler in your prayers.

I love you more than you will ever know!

Elder England

ps...I think that we get to skype for Christmas!!!!

 ¨Gracias a dios¨ literally everyone says that here and

literally everyone is Catholic. This church reminded me

so much of our trip to Europe!

A dog jumped up on me and got one of my shirts all dirty...

I hate dogs!

We got some ice cream today - it was sooooooo good!

I Am Doing My Part To Preach The Gospel

Elder Cruz and I climbed up on the roof

to look at the sunset! 

Hey fam!!!

So my oro is... Elder Cruz! He is this funny Peruvian. We have gotten along so well over the past couple days, and I am surprised at how much he knows already. I really am praying that I can be a good example for him, and that I can work hard with him. I don't think I told you this, but Elder Canete is training too! He is training Elder Gallacher who is from Cali. So yeah we have two oros in our house. 

I have been praying for Chandler so much, but sometimes I have to try to not think about everything that is going on at home. Thankfully I have felt that all of this hasn't held me back from trying to work hard. But I really have faith that there will be a miracle! I know that whatever happens Chandler is going to be alright. 

Thanks for all the Emails. Mom sounds like you are busy like always, and I'm trying to work hard even if I have a bum comp. Thanks for the inspiration dad, you always make me feel so much better. Mags I wish I could have been there for your lesson. Soph you're not old enough to talk to boys, stop it! Oh hey I got the Game package!  I haven't read any of the letters yet, but we did eat all the food, and the little Bop-it is totally awesome. Thank yoooouuuuu!

This whole week hasn't been the greatest in the aspect of investigators. I felt like Alejandra was progressing and ready to be baptized, but everySunday she tells us that she can't come to church for some reason. This Sunday she sent us a message at like 9 saying that she couldn't make it cause her son was sick the night before and she didn't want to leave him alone for a long time but she said that she was going to come at 11 for sacrament meating. Well 11 oclock came and no Alejandra, she sent a message saying that she wasn't going to be able to make it cause it was raining at the time and some other stuff that I don't remember. Well I was pretty upside and sent a message back saying, We are sorry, but sometimes God gives us trials to see if we are really willing to obey him! .... yeah she didn't respond to that, and we haven't  talked to her since. We decided that we are going to give it a couple of days before we do anything. So with Alejandra I really don't know what is going to happen. And really other than her we don't have anybody.

We have gone by Roberto and Lorena´s house a couple of times but haven't been able to get a hold of them. I was actually a little down in the dumps the past couple of days because Washington has continued smoking too and has stopped coming to church. I feel like we have done so much to help these people but they are the exact same. I feel like they are not listening to us at all!!! Also I have knocked so many doors this week, and really haven't found hardly anyone who is really interested. So I was a little down, and my District Leader Elder Schill I think could tell, cause he calls us every night to verify how our day went. Anyways he told me to flip in Preach My Gospel to the page that says "What is a successful missionary?" This really helped so much. I realized that I can't judge my success on the number of investigators or people to teach, but on how hard I am working and on if I am doing my part to preach the gospel.

So this week I am going out with full force, I know there are people waiting for this, we just have to find them!

Have an awesome week, believe in miracles! and keep on movin on!

I love you more than you will ever know!

Elder England

There is a sweet river in Elder Cantese area

(This is when I was going out with him as my companion)

This is what I get to look at for the next 3 months - haha

I'm Going To Give It My Best Shot

Hey fam!!!

I feel the same way with everything that is going on. I am so grateful for everything that I have, I just wish that I could do more to help. You guys are so awesome to help my friends like this. I really can't do anything other than pray for them, and that is what I have been doing. In a way looking at all of this, It has made all of us realize how much we need the Lord in our lives. I know that whatever happens, EVERYTHING is going to be okay. But that is not going to stop me from praying for a miracle!!!!!!

Sounds like Halloween was fun, me and Elder Canete bought candy to give to the little kids (a little creepy I know, but it was Halloween). The problem was that there weren't that many kids, and we bought it pretty late, so now we have ended up eating all the candy. 

Okay this week was reeeeeaaaally crazy!!! Elder Marroquin and Elder Segura were in the house and didn't leave for proselyting this whole week. Well it's a long story but the thing is that they were angry with the zone leaders for not caring about them or something like that, so there was a big fight. Anyways I had been working with Elder Canete in our areas, for quite a while so we were pretty much companions and Elder Marroquin and Elder Segura weren't really doing anything other than sitting in there beds all day. Well there was this big fight - President was called multiple times, and it turned out that they told Elder Marroquin and Elder Segura to leave and go to Montevideo until the end of this change. So they left on Wednesday last week and It has just been Me and Elder Canete in the house. Actually we had a sleep over at our zone leaders house the past two nights, it's been pretty fun my zone leaders are awesome. Or were awesome, (one of them is leaving this change).

Anyways so there is that story, but the bigger issue right now is changes.... This next change I am going to...... TRAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We are going to be here in Florida in the same area. Oh gosh, I really didn't believe them when they told me that last night, and I don't know how much I slept last night. I am nervous but excited at the same time! I remember a similar feeling when I got my mission call. But if President and the assistants felt like they could put me as a trainer this change, then I'm going to be a trainer! Inspite of all my fears and doubts, I'm going to give it my best shot. I'm going to doubt my doubts before I doubt my fears! 

So that's all that! I remembered to take pictures but I forgot to bring my camera cord, so I'm so sorry I don't have any pictures this week:( I'll be better next week!

I didn't have time to read Macy's letter this week, I just assume that she is doing awesome. Anyways have an awesome week!

I love you more than you will ever know! Be an example of the believers, and lend a helping hand to all those that need it! 

Elder England


For Chandler and His Family - 

I have made so many memories with Chandler, it's hard to pick just one. From playing monkey in the middle on the Webb's front lawn, to going boating at Utah Lake! He has always been someone with a positive attitude. That is probably the aspect or attribute that I most admire about Chandler - that no matter what happened he was always happy. 

He has always had a way to brighten other peoples spirits. I know that right now, and whatever happens in the future Chandler is going to be happy. I am praying for you Chandler, and I love you! Thank you for the friend that you have been to me over the years.

Start strong, Finish stronger!