Address

I would love to receive letters. This is my letters and package address

Hermana Mandy T Nokes

Mision Chile Rancagua

Alcalde Eduardo Melero 883

Casilla 2-C Rancagua

Lib. Gen. B. O´Higgins

Chile

What I've "Bean" through...

CHile has been great this week. I had the greatest epiphany ever. I was being a baby and thinking of home and the things I miss because this place is so different than home. I know the blessings of my home and the love my family has for me. Then I realized. I know the blessings of my heavenly home. I know how my heavenly father loves me and I know the things in store for me there BUT I dont continually want to die do i? No! SO Then it hit me. I have to live here while I do and do everything in my power to return to both my heavenly home and my earthly home.

After this major enlightenment, Life has become so much easier. I have been so happy. I truly realized that these people are my brothers and sisters and I want to help them so much. Its getting easier to talk to everyone and share my testimony on the train, in the collectivos (TAXIS) and while walking, shopping, etc. I love it. And the members here are so strong and great. I love them so much.

It seems with great spirituality and strength comes opposition. I have been sicker this week than ever in my life. In various ways. The other day I received a huge plate of lentejas-beans from a member and it was delicious. But I killed my stomach. The next 3 days were a living heck! haha Oh my goodness. My companion laughed and when the members offered me food she had to tell them I couldn't eat because I was not accustomed to the food. Beans. They kill me. SLowly. But apparently I will get used to it. My comp ate the whole plate and ASKED FOR SECONDS.

Last night we were sitting at the misisonary devotional and I started feeling sick. Ive never felt that way ever in my life. I was trying to maintain myself but I was starting to pass out. I finally told my companion. Then I was blacking out. SO basically some stuff happened I don't super remember.  I slowly walked/was carried out of the room to lie down. The assistants to the presidents helped me by sharing their jackets because I was freezing and helped get me water and feel better. It was so weird. I was dizzy and light headed and I hated it with all my heart. I hate to be a burden to people and it was awful. I got a blessing and then was driven home later. This morning I woke up the same. =( Since it was P day we went and played sports. We were playing futbol, me dizzily, and being my idiotic self got way into the game and headed the ball. MY companion was like HERMANA YOURE inferma...and the weirdest thing happened. I actually felt better.

Later we realized that I was really messed up because we fasted and then I had a huge banana split and because Ive lost a lot of weight. Hopefully I dont have a parasite. Haha. We will see about that one. ... but yeah. I love to see such opposition. Whenever we teach the first vision there is always opposition. Dogs barking, babies crying, cars, and one investigator had her video about the restoration stop right before Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith. With such great truth there has to be opposition. It makes me happy and fortifies my testimony. I know that the work is true and the work is good.

The work is great here. I am happy. I have learned so much and if I were to go home today I would be a completely different person. I love the gospel and the truth and joy it brings people. I am so glad I can share with everyone.

My companion is teaching me espanol, and some phrases in italian. Eso somo malcho feliche ...I am so happy... and my roomate, teaches me portuguese. I know I need the every hour in portuguese! My mind is spinning- and not because I am dizzy anymore. haha. Its because I learn so much spiritually, mentally, physically. 

I love you all. Thanks for the different roles you have played in my life. I love keeping in touch with you all and thanks for writing me.

Invasion

June 10th.........This week has been nothing but an invasion of my personal space. Let me explain what has been invading my life and why its so good.

The first invasion of my life in Chile has been in mother nature. There are dogs literally everywhere. They are nice for the most part but if they are too scary we just pretend we are picking up a rock.
Mas mother nature, I bet there were more slugs in my shower this week than yours. Barbosas. haha. And on the stairs, and in many places in the house. haha
Mother Nature also gave us an earthquake, but I was so tired and slept soundly through it. Everyone was astounded. What an invasion haha

The second way Chile has been an invasion of my personal space is through the people. Last night we taught a lesson to a 20 something year old man who was wearing boxers-with a robe over it. So awkward. People here are very comfortable. I also saw a woman nursing..... I finally learned how to kiss. LOL hahah! Every time people greet here they kiss and I started out actually kissing peoples cheeks but you just touch cheeks and make a kissing sound in the ears. Sooo sorry people .... love, the awkward gringa. hah We only kiss the women to say hi although men do to. A couple of nights ago this man kissed me because i couldnt think fast enough to say NO NOS SALUDEMOS CON UNA BESA. so yeah. Ive practiced that line many times.

The third way this week has been an invasion of my personal space is because the spirit is taking over. I INVITED A MAN TO BE BAPTIZED! oh my goodness. He wants more lessons. We are going back tonight. I bet he will. He believes in God and cried to us about his spouse dying. He is 74 years old, going through dialysis and has a prosthetic leg. He has so many challenges and yet is so anxious to live and learn. I love him. Seriously.  It was the best spirit, lesson, feeling ever. The spirit has snuck in many times and reaffirmed my doubts and helped me with the language and the culture. The first few days were super rough, because I am essentially camping (in the fall) but I really love the people.

I bore my testimony in the rama (branch ) on sunday about about how the spirit is the same in any language and how it has taught me.

Through all my invasions, I know that this is what I am supposed to be doing and although it is super tough it has brought me so much joy.

Hello from Chile:)...June 4 , 2013

I am in a little station where you pay to use the internet, so i don't have much time.  But I am here and I needed to tell you all I made it safely. I can tell I am going to love it here. Tonight we visited this little family and this lifestyle is so simple and beautiful. No doorbells here so when you arrive you yell hallo! and they answer.

I love my companion Hermana Neira. she speaks a little english but is from Colombia. Our mission president says we are the dream team and that I am the golden missionary of the future. . 

I've seen 8479287592837 dogs without leashes but none have given me rabies (or come close)

MTC... May 28th

Mission life is wonderful I feel so blessed and happy. I feel blessed to have the family I do when I hear some of the Elder's life stories. They are such strong examples to me. We went to the temple today and being in the celestial room with them was like being with my current family. I felt great.

We teach investigators that when we pray we first address God, second tell him the feelings in our hearts-corazones, and then close in the nombre de JesuCristo, amen. I realized last night I have never done that. I have always prayed: open, thanks for this, bless this, amen, not my deep sincere thoughts. I tried it and it was wonderful.

I feel your prayers. I know that angels are here with me!

Me and Hermana Wonnacotts' favorite thing to do here is learn and share the gospel BUT when we aren't doing that we love to sing. We have great renditions of hymns. Our district always sings. Their favorite song is oh elders of israle. They sing it so much.