Chile Concepcion South Mission

Here are my stories as I served in the Chile Concepción South Mission November 2014-May 2016. Let's include a bit of my return missionary life too. Love, Hermana Nicole Pemberton

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It will all work out.

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The fruits of a mission can never be seen during that time period! I'm so happy to see how many people are choosing to be baptized. Today Jose Miguel was baptized! :) I can't describe how happy I am!!!!!

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Be faithful and diligent in keeping the commandments of God, and I will encircle thee in the arms of my love.

Doctrine and Covenants 6:20

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Love yourself

This is something I really struggled with before my mission, I always compared my appearance to others on social media ect. But I learned on my mission that I am beautiful and not only in a physical sense, but I am beautiful when I love and serve others and when I share my talents with them. When I think of the people I love most in this world it is never because of their looks, it is because of who they are, and often how they have helped me or what they have gone through with me. Plus the Chileans taught me appearance doesn’t matter in their culture they’ll tell you you are fat or ugly straight up. At the beginning I would be offended. Eventually I learned when they say fat they do not mean obese, they Really mean you are bigger than you were and they are happy that they fed you enough. They show their love in food. Also they are telling you they love you no matter what you look like. In chile all their love names are insults on the looks. Sometimes they call their husbands “gordito” or little fatty and the husbands call the wife “bruja” or witch. But it is rude to say “flaquita” or to call someone a little skinny person. Haha I guess that means that person isn't loved very much.

This is a question from a youth on Elder Bednars face to face. 5. Why is it so hard to accept the way I look? How can I stop caring what others think of me?

Sister Bednar focused her answer on understanding who we are as God’s children. “I just look at young people and if I can see the light of the gospel in their eyes, they’re beautiful to me.” For those struggling to feel a sense of self-worth, Sister Bednar recommended that we pray to know in our hearts that we are truly children of a loving Heavenly Father, and that we have a divine nature we can use to bless others. “That’s what really matters.”

One additional thought Elder Bednar had was that the world’s definition of beauty is associated with physical attraction—but that’s not what true beauty is. “There is a beauty in [the] countenance that’s not physical.”

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The temple has helped me a bunch in coming home, it helps me remember who I am, a child of God. It also helps me to remember that those around me are also Children of God!

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I am hoping and praying that this family can be completed as planned and Miguel's three kids can choose to follow his example and be baptized!!!

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Hahaha technology again after 18 months

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President Wilhelm was just called to be the Santiago Temple President! Woohoo!

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If we read the scriptures we can see what is right or wrong. 3 Nephi 10:14

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Q&A

My sister, Jessica who is finishing her mission soon wrote me a few questions that were questions I always had for other people finishing their missions. Q: In what ways have you seen yourself change? A: The greatest change has been in my conversion to Jesus Christ. I no longer am scared to talk about the gospel in all moments, I actually live for it. I talk to random strangers all the time and focus on edifying the Kingdom of God. I can communicate my problems a lot more with others,and find solutions with Faith for them. I love to wake up early. I see my own worth a lot more. I have more self control. I know that I can meet my goals now. I have confidence in myself and am more self sufficient spiritually. The greatest and most wonderful change is that I recieve answers from the Lord every time I seek them. He truly speaks all of the time. I love Him. He is the greatest companion. Q: What were your biggest impressions when you were released? A: My greatest impression that Ive had is that the Lord looked upon my work and said: It is well. I realized that He does not compare our work with that of others nor does He have some set number of things we need to do, Instead he accepts our offerings of Obedience to Him and they become stored treasures in heaven for us. They also transform us tremendously. Q: Did you feel a big difference when you were released? I have heard that you feel like something was taken out of you...Who took of your placa? A: I did with a smile on my face! Everyone told me it would be terrible and that I would be absolutely miserable, and feel the spirit leave me, but no, It is not true, I just took it off gladly because I knew that It had already been printed onto my heart. I still feel it on my chest and I know it is because it will always be there, it was there before and My plaque will be there forever it has become a part of who i am.

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Such a sweet moment!

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What it felt like coming home (Warning Trunky content)

Here's the big question, What does it feel like to return home from a full time mission? I forgot a lot of what the United States was like. Chile became my new home, and I was used to the food, the people, the language and my fun life working as a missionary for the Lord Jesus Christ. When time came around to finish my mission, I was comforted and knew that my work was accepted my the Lord. But it did break my heart to leave my home, I cried much more leaving chile that coming to chile. I was so happy to be able to see my family. They are a huge blessing in my life. Come what may and love it has been my attitude coming home, these next 18 months will be the best of my life, and the 18 months after that too!

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Our mission office prepared a bunch of things for us our last day. It was one of the most spiritual days of my life. We ate dinner in the mission home, we as the sisters had the opportunity to sleep in the mission home, and Sister Wilhelm (presidents wife) did our hair for the next day, but before that we went and worked for her teaching some last people in the streets of our mission by the temple grounds of the Concepcion temple.

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Here I am saying goodbye to the sweetest people I know. The members of Chile are so loving. One family (Family Eade) came all the way to the airport at 6 in the morning to say goodbye to us. Many others went out of their way to help with my bags and gave me so many gifts. Let's just say many tears were shed.

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9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

Joshua 1:9 the Old Testament