Cal says I should start up the blog thing again.  She showed me how to update the template.  Let's see how part 2 goes in my blogging world...

El Fin

One more day and Alison will be home!! As her mother it has been a pleasure copying and pasting the information she wanted to share with her friends and family. As much fun as this has been, I'm ready to hand off the posting duties to HER!

Al's flight will be in at 1:02 p.m. tomorrow (tues) and if anyone wants to be there to greet her, you're sure welcome... she would love it! If not, her Homecoming is this upcoming Sunday, May 9th at 9:00 a.m.

Bueno adiós!

The Lovely Mother of Alison

President and Sister Resek

My last letter!!

Okay, ….. I am just gonna tell ya that I think this may be the last time that I am going to write before I come home because next week I am going back to a couple of areas to visit some people before I leave. We can do that our last p-day and we will be traveling a lot, and I don`t know if we are going to get time to write much, but I will at least check my email. Juuust so you know :) I am especially excited to see Pablito and Karina. Hna. Olson told me that Pablito had to give his testimony in a baptism and was SOOOO nervous but carries around a little note I sent him a few weeks ago and had it in hand when he gave his testimony so as to give him courage. It was so cute!

Well, if you didn`t know, it`s COLD here. Actually at this very moment, it`s not that cold, but in the mornings and evenings and nights its cold. Winter is definitely knockin on the door.

This week we did divisions… I went to Baquedano (another part in Rancagua) with Hna. Pinto. We lived together in Graneros when we shared sectors and we always talked about how we wanted to be companions, but it never happened…. So we were THRILLED to be together for one day! I felt like we were walking on the clouds all day long :) We had an awesome lesson with the cutest young couple who are truly looking for the truth. We shared the message of the restoration and we talked and answered questions and testified and the spirit was very strong. They kept saying how the message just made sense, but more than that, they FELT that it was right. The dad, Juan, said that with all the different religions that he had shared with, he had never FELT like he did when he heard the message. It was awesome. I loved that moment. I love moments like that when you can feel the spirit testify of the truthfulness. I don`t know if I recognized that feeling before, but I definitely can`t deny the feeling now. Though today we had a sisters lunch for all the sisters here in the Rancagua area and I had to say goodbye to a few of my old latin companions/friends like Hna Pinto and Hna Bonilla and it was pretty heart breaking.

Though some more good news is that we are teaching a single Jovencita named Malu that is actually about a year older than us that has a little boy. Her friend is a less active returning to the church joven named Diego and last week he just showed up with Malu and she wanted to learn more. She is wonderful and is preparing to be baptized for the 2nd of Mayo. I love teaching her because she really wants to learn and we just seem to connect well :)

Patricio was confirmed yesterday and he seems so happy. He got sick this last week because the water was cold when he got baptized :P oops. But he is doing well.

Does anyone know if they sell mate yerbas en the US??

AND THE COOLEST NEWS FOR TODAY….. We just now got a phone call from the Hna. Cabezas (the Colombian Hermana that is helping us with Jairo and Monica) and told us that she went with them to the registro civil and found out that they can legally get married here in Chile with just their passports (that was the doubt) and that they have decided that they want to get married!!! They are still not exactly sure how much time they have to wait before they can get married, but there is a great chance that they will do it before we leave and be baptized too (at least Monica…. Jairo is having a hard time leaving behind a few vices…) But I am so excited for them!!!! Yesterday we had a FHE again with them and with the Cabezas and I felt so at home and with so much love for Monica and Jairo and for the Cabezas. I am very happy that the work is progressing. I even made no bake cookies with REAL peanut butter and they were a big hit.

I haven`t felt any temblores this week. I kind of miss them.

Bueno, I hope everyone is doing well. Thank you so much for writing me! I love you so much!

Hna. Jones

Patricio Got Baptized!

Hey heye hye heyeyehkafdashalghajlgad

Hey, I just want to say thaaaaaat PATRICIO GOT BAPTIZED!!! There, I said it. And I am going to say this too…. it really almost didn´t happen. This was the most opposition in a baptism that I have seen and experiences in all of my mission. For about 100,023,423 reasons. I will tell the story another day. I actually spent just about all of my hour in an email to the president (I had a lot to talk about this week) , so I don´t have much time.

But Patricio is happy and it was truly a miracle. He felt overwhelmed. It has been over 5 months that he was sharing with missionaries, and years before too. He was ready and he felt that wonderful spiritually clean feeling…. and that is what I am here for. To be able to see and experience that change though the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Something beautiful that happened is that MONICA came to church yesterday with Jairo, but in a pretty skirt. That means a whole lot when the investigators or new converts go out of their way to buy church clothes. Her birthday was this week too and we did a tiny little surprise for her and she cried with joy and a gratitude. She wants to get baptized so bad. But now Jairo is having cold feet and doesn´t know if he wants to make that commitment. The hard thing is that they are still living together. She is willing to leave him until he makes a decision so she can be baptized, but is dependent on him, it´s not so easy here to go out and find a supporting job and especially when you're illegal and waiting on papers. She is trying to figure out her options while Jairo figures out his. The good thing is we have a wonderful member family that have taken them under their wings and are helping them in every form. I don´t know what we´d do without them.

Well… I love you all so much - sorry this is so short. Thanks Mom and Dad and Cal for writing me. I don´t know what I would do without your supporting love and words!

Hna. Jones

A Great Semana

Weeeeeeeeellllllllp, it was a great semana. It was a crazy week. We are still learning and trying hard and praying harder for our trio companionship. One thing I love about Hna. Magalei is that she doesn`t let the crap fly like I had done a few times with Hna. Motta (because I wanted to avoid contention). She and Motta have bumped heads a few times, but I think things are getting across. We are just doing our best, loving one another, praying a whole lot, and leaving the rest up to the Lord. It will be okay. One thing that is great in the area is that we are teaching a man named Patricio. He is a dad of a member family that has been going to church for months now, but never felt ready, never felt the need to get baptized or stop smoking. Well, recently he felt strongly the need to be baptized after he took the personal initiative to read the Book of Mormon everyday. He has stopped smoking and is (we are planning) ready to be baptized this weekend. It will be very beautiful for him and his family. We had an awesome leccion with him about repentance and Hna. Magalei and I (Hna. Motta was sick that day) were jumping in our seats pretty much with excitement to see his excitement and desires to change.

Monica and Jairo went to two sessions of general conference!!! They loved it! And, the good news (and I hope permanent news) is that they have decided for sure that they are getting married (there had been doubts) and they are putting in the pilas to get all their paper work done. Today is Monica´s birthday so we are going to have a sweet FHE with them. One other thing that makes me so happy is to see the testimony that Monica has with the Book of Mormon. She loves it. Even though she is from Colombia she still has that sweet ¨oh no you di´int!¨ black attitude so it`s hilarious when we go to visit them and we ask about what we left her to read. She proudly holds it up to show us all the markings she made and does that ¨ ummm hummmm¨ lip jutting thing. If you can picture that… I love it. If there is one thing that I have felt and learned strongly in the mission is the changing power that the Book of Mormon has on the people. I know it`s because it talks of Christ, and teaches how we can apply his atonement and him in our life.

Speaking of Confernece, it was great, wasn't it? Once again I am amazed at how directly and clearly the questions I brought to be answered were answered. A LOT of things that were said were very helpful for me to apply in my companionship.

One thing that was very impactful for me this week was something that happened to Hna. Magalei actually. But it was such a strengthener to my testimony of the priesthood. Well, I am not going to include too many details, but a long story short is that Hna. Magalei was not doing so well and was able to receive a priesthood blessing from Elder Wengreen and other Elders. I could feel very strongly that the blessing wasn`t coming from E´Wengreen, but they were words that Heavenly Father wanted her to hear. She was able to feel better and is just fine now. Remind me to tell you about this experience when I get back.

We had a zone activity today and hiked a really brutal mountain. We didn`t actually get to the top because we didn`t have all day. …. But it was fun! Though I fell quite a few times and got a little scraped up. That was to be expected though. I seem to trip a lot these days.

Thanks for the pics!! I love them. Daneille is so grown up it makes me sick. I also got pics from Michelle and her baby. She is so cute!!! Sorry my pics didn`t work out. Maybe I`ll just wait till later to show ya`ll.

Well things are going well. I love the work. I love the Lord. And I love my dear dear family so much. That`s the truth.

Hna. Honez

P.S. I forgot to add an important detail to the blessing story for Hna. Magalei that when the elders were giving the blessing the assistant recieved a phone call right at that very moment just to see if everything was okay. It was President Resek that called and he had had a feeling that something wasn`t right with some missionaries and so called to check in. At the very moment that he was giving the blessing. It was really incredible.

P.S.S. I forgot to tell that last night we had a pretty decent sized temblor and I got excited... I think I was going through aftershake withdrawls... terrible huh?

It's all Good

This week has been pretty awesome. I LOVE the enthusiasm that Hna. Magalei has for the work. We`ve worked hard, and invited people to be baptized. We have felt the guidance of the spirit too. We get along so great. She is hilarious and laid back but understands the importance of the work. She has had a big change in her life and feels the love of the Savior and her testimony strengthens mine and she firmly believes that we can always progress. I have felt very well with her and things with Hna. Motta have gotten a lot better too. It`s interesting being in a threesome, kind of awkward walking in the street, but it`s nice if we ever need to be in two different parts but close by because we do this cool triangle thing where one hermana is in the middle and can see us both.

So we`ve had this reference for couple of weeks but his is only available on Saturday afternoons. But the thing is he lives FAR away from where we`re working. We went last week, and didn`t find him. We went on Saturday and again, we didn`t find him. But I was thinking about what Preach My Gospel says about references and how sometimes if we can`t locate our referral, maybe there is someone else waiting and needing the gospel close by. So we started knocking doors on this street where never before would we have gone out there (because it`s so far) and knocked like 4 houses and found a woman named America. She is GOLDEN (we think). And wants to get baptized. And we had to be brought all the way out there for the referral that didn`t work out to find her, because we wouldn`t have found her otherwise. It was AWESOME. I love how the Lord works in mysterious ways. Though we only taught her once but I am certain she will progress.

And one more.... makes three!!

Today there are transfers. I am sure you know what I was expecting... and it didn`t happen. In fact there are a whole load of things that Heavenly Father still wants me to learn with Hna. Motta, my last transfer in the mission. She actually leaves this transfer too so it only made sense that we would be changed. But instead, another sister came and we are going to be in a threesome. Our new companion is named Hna. Magalei from Orem Utah, but she is polonisian (how do you spell that?) she is very pretty, big, and she is HAPPY and bubbly and easy going. It will definitely be a challange being in a threesome, but she has already been an angel for me in these last 2 hours. It is definiely not what I pictured my last transfer in the mission to be like, buuuuut, when do things ever work out how we expect? This scriture is my goal: ¨let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God , and for his arm to be revealed.¨ D&C 123:17. So I am hoping for the best, willing to keep working my best and I know things will work out.

Jairo and Monica went to church again yesterday. I love them so much. Though Monica and Jairo understand that to be baptized, they need to get married. Well, Monica told us once that she is not very happy with Jairo and is thinking about breaking up with him...because she wants to get baptized so bad!! Though we`re cheering on the marriage because Jairo is such a good person too, I just hope they can make a decision where they both are happy.

We are also teaching a young woman named Javiera. She is a friend of a member and the girlfriend of another member. She is so sweet and has a beautiful cheezy smile. Though she has had a rough/rebellious past and is trying to stop smoking. Though she is making great progress! We can see a change in her countenance and the other day she took out her lip ring and hasn`t put it in since! Bacàn, huh?

So along with getting a new companion, this morning we moved out of the Wengreens apartment and upstairs with the other sisters. 2 of them left to live with other sisters in another area, but still close to their own area (I feel bad about kicking them out... but blame the earthquake for eating our home). Though we live with Hna. Jackson and Hna. Black. Remembe Hna. Black? She was my ¨daughter¨ in the mission... so that`s really nice to be back with her. My desk to study is right next to the window and I am going to like sitting with the window open catching the fall breeze and listening to the hustle of busy Rancagua below. I like our new location :) It is still quite far from our area, but we take taxis there and sometimes the elders take us in their car since we share an area. So that`s nice.

I lately am finding out a lot about how much the lord will strengethen people in their trials. I am so grateful that I am not on this journey alone.

So do you have your food storage updated and your emergency backpacks ready?

I love you,

Hna. AL

Temblorcito

Hey!

Wow, I just want to say that I am very touched by all the prayers and concern from everyone for the people here in Chile. I don´t doubt that they are being held up by everyone's prayers. Especially those who have lost loved ones.

You asked about the temblorcito (little aftershock!). It wasn´t that bad. Though my companion and I were knocking doors at some apartments when it hit. It was actually kind of comical because just minutes before everyone that we talked to told us ´NO´ so we moved on. When it started to shake my companion and I ran out from under the buildings and wires and waited it out and so did everyone else (it wasn´t that long). The woman that told us seconds earlier that she didn´t have time ran out with her two daughters a bit scared, but ran out right along side of us. So, what did we do? We started talking to them! And then they listened to us (they didn´t really have a choice) but they invited us back to visit again. It´s true what a few people have said, how all of this could make the people a little more receptive. This week we have found a lot of people. Normally we find between 10 and 14. This week we found 24 people that listened to our message. And some of them are doing very well! A few of them even accepted the invitation to be baptized, so I am really excited to continue teaching them. I really hope we can see real progress. I feel like there is so much potential. So many people ready for the gospel and are even more prepared than ever now to receive the message so we are doing our best to get to them and help them know the great joy that comes from experiencing the atonement. I really do have that desire and I am praying a lot that we can find these people and that they can progress.

I have learned so much from Ernesto this week! He is doing so well. He wanted to show us the other day some of the temporal blessings that he has received since being a member of the church. Before he has always been a little poor, hasn´t really had a lot, very little food. But said, ¨I just want you to see something¨ and he opened up his kitchen drawers and fridge and showed us a whole load of food and food storage that he has bought. He said that this last week a check suddenly arrived in his mail from the government that he wasn´t expecting and he was able to buy a food storage. Before he said he barely had anything in his kitchen but thanks to paying his tithing and being obedient he recognized his blessings. It was awesome!

It´s true about the blackout here. I think it hit a good part of Chile, not just Santiago because it sure hit here! It was about 9 o clock pm, but we took off in a taxi as soon as it hit so we got in safe and sound. It was kind of fun, we got home and then went up to the sisters that live above us and made French toast in the dark (but with flashlights).

Rory asked if they were going to re-locate missionaries. Sure enough, tomorrow there are a handful of missionaries that were going to go to the Concepcion mission, but they will be arriving here instead. I think one sister missionary is coming in today too.

Today we had a sisters conference and I learned a lot of wonderful things. Though when president addressed us, he asked me on the spot to translate for him (there are new gringa sisters in the mission so they needed a translation) and that scared me more than the earthquake I think, but I was able to translate everything just fine :) I was surprised at how easy it was ;)

I met Sister Kelly Rasmusson this week, she seems to be doing very well! You can tell them that, mom :)

I got an envelope from Rena Peacock with letters from the achievement days girls the other day and it was so cute! Tell her thanks. Also if you could tell Bishop that the 9th is just fine to speak.

Aaaand, yes I know the Elder Canaan. He was my district leader once. I think I heard from someone that his dad is kind of famous in the music scene and that wouldn´t surprise me because Elder Canaan is a music buff too.

This next week there will be transfers. I think also we will moving in with the sisters that live above us. That will be nice. The Wengreens are wonderful (sometimes she makes cookies, other times brownies) and I have really enjoyed conversations with Sister Wengreen, but I think they need their space.

Everything is well. We are able to donate a lot of things to people, but other than that we haven´t been involved in too many service projects. The places that really need it are far from our area. I really wanted to get down and dirty re-building houses and what not… but that will all come. There is other work to be done :)

I am doing well, thank you for loving me so much. I love my family like a fat kid loves chocolate.

Sorry if I forgot something…..but CHAAAO!!

Get your food and water storage!!!

Okay, before i forget, I`m gonna answer your questions: Cali, no, I don`t know those people… sorry :( How do you know people from Machalí? Mom… I still don`t know Kelly Rassmussen. When I left she went to the area San Fernando, and I was in Guadalupe, but in the city of San Fernando. They are two areas in the same city. So she lives in the same house that I lived in. I know that she is with Hna. Pastrana from Colombia. And Hna. Pastrana is INCREDIBLE. So she is in very good hands there. Hna. Olson wrote me a letter once to tell me about how things are going down there and she commented that Hna. Rass is having a hard time because she was sick in the MTC and didn`t learn any Spanish so she feels really behind. But she said that Hna. Pastrana is helping her a whole lot. But I think that`s normal in the beginning of the mission. I am sure she will be just fine. We have a Sisters conference this next p-day, so I should be able to see her then.

I`m sorry if my last email scared you, I was just thowing in the details… oops? But everything is okay, please don`t worry. It`s been an interesting week! Presidente was very hesitant in letting us go out and work in our areas so until Thursday we could only visit members and the people that have dates to be baptized. That means that we had a lot of down-time… not been able to do a whole lot. As for the service we`ve been able to help a little, donate a few things, but we can only participate in organized service projects in the branch. There are a handful of families still living in the church, but the branch has really come together to help them, they are in good hands. Luckily Rancagua hasn`t been affected as much as another part in our mission, though our area has been the most affected of the Rancagua areas. The missionaries in the south are doing a lot more service as it was hit a lot harder. Though those in Concepcion obviously are not well. I am still amazed that not one missionary in all of Chile was hurt in the earthquake.

We`re still living with the Wengreens. They are taking care of us just fine. Though I sometimes feel bad because their apartment was already small for 2 people and now we`re 4 people and I feel like we`re kind of cramping their style. But they are being so patient with us being in their home. We have to travel a lot farther to get to our area (far enough that we can`t walk) So we`ve been able to hitch a ride from either them, or the assistants a few of these days and that`s been nice. They are working on looking for another home, but right now that isn`t their main concern, so we just need to be patient for a little bit more time.

As I said we had a lot of down time, so one of the days we went to work in the office! It was awesome. The assistants have been on the phone non-stop this whole week so I said (not seriously) that I`d help them out with the phone calls. So the Elder handed me his phone and said ¨go for it.¨ So I got to call all the zone leaders in the entire mission and get some info from them and write it all up in the computer. It was pretty funny because a handful of them thought it was a joke. But it wasn`t. The best part of it was when I got to call my old district leader and be the boss for a minute. Ha. JK… or am I… It`s been an interesting week. Sadly, it seems like the earthquake just made my companion more irritable and without desires for the work. That`s probably been the hardest part of the whole thing.

But the really good news is that Jairo and Monica (the sweet black Colombian couple) went to church yesterday!! Throughout the entire sacrament meeting Jairo just cried and cried. He said he ¨had pain being there¨ Because he is very sentimental and felt overwhelmed and obviously felt the spirit in the testimony meeting. But he LOVED it at the end, participated in the classes and left happy with a handful of books and magazines that the members gave him. Monica didn`t say much about church, she just sat quietly and took it all in. It worried me a little bit because she has been the more receptive one in the lessons. But when I asked her how she had felt she said that she had felt a peace and tranquilidad. It was pretty awesome. We are going to have a FHE this week with another family that live close by. They understand that they need to get married, but they are still missing a few documents to be ¨legal¨ in Chile. So the process will probably be a long one, but they are great anyway and make me really happy :)

Bueno, thanks for everything I love you all so much. I am sending a happy birthday letter to pops today so I hope he gets it.

One thing I wanted to make clear last week but forgot is: GET YOUR FOOD STORAGE UP-DATED!!! It really came in handy, and I don`t know what the situation would have been like if the missionaries hadn`t recently updated the food storage. Don`t wait, just do it now. Spend they money, make the effort, but get your food storage. One thing too that would be nice is to always have a backpack maybe under the bed with food, water, and a change of clothes and underwear and a pair of shoes. And a FLASHLIGHT. Those are the things we needed. It seems like we did that once a long time ago, but now`s a good time to update everything.

Welp, I hope this week goes well

Oh yeah… Cali, thanks for your email!!! I love you too! are you working at the Journey then?

CHAO

Hna. Jones

Earthquake in Chile

Okay, first of all thank you for all the prayers and concern, I love you all so much!

Second thing. .... the earthquake.... I don`t really know where to start or what to tell you because all the details in these last couple days would be enough to be here all day, buuuut I`ll just give you the run down starting with about 3:34 am Saturday morning.

I woke up with my companion saying ¨Sister, it`s shaking!¨ And sure enough it was, so I threw myself on the ground and Hermana Motta too (she sleeps on the bunk bed above me) We huddled down and all I had in my mind were those emails that mom and dad have sent me weeks and months ago about earthquake saftey so we ducked down by the bed ready for the worst. My companion started to freak out and started to take off so I got up to pull her back down on the ground but fell down doing it because it was shaking so much so there we sat huddled up against the bed and we prayed until the earthquake stopped. I am not going to lie, I was just waiting for the building to come toppeling down on top of us because we`re on the first floor, though it`s only a 4 story building. I kept thinking that it wasn`t real, it was so weird. So we got up, and of course there isn`t any electricity but we couldn`t find our cell phone or keys and that got me more panicy than anything but we found them and went out side.

There were people walking around in their underwear or bedsheets just dumb stricken for what had happened. The building looked okay, and it didn`t seem that bad. It looked like the people were okay too, just a little shaken up (literally!). We sat outside for a good while, not really sure what to do. And we were tired so finally we went back in and were going to go back to bed (I Know, that`s probably the dumbest idea ever but we obviously weren`t thinking. Just tired) But we only were inside for like 10 minutes when we hear at our door ¨!Hermanas!!¨ It was a member and his son that came looking for us. He told us we definitely should NOT be in the apartment but to come with them and sit with their family at a pavilion that was close by. I brought my blanket and pillow because I just wanted to sleep. So we went there and passed time with his family. It felt really nice to be taken care of. Though I felt just SICK because in the apartment in front of the office lives the elderly couple missionaries on the 5th floor, the 4 other sisters on the 9th floor and the assistants and the office elders on the 13th floor. I thought if it was bad for us, it was a nightmare for the others missionaries. And even more so I felt sick for Concepcion. I know a couple elders from my distrct in the MTC were there and all the other people that are there. It hit us I think about a 7, but as you all know it hit Concepcion at about 8.8.

So we were there for about an hour when the Elders came looking for us. These elders are the assistants to the president, but don`t live in our area because they live in the center in front of the mission office. But they have a car, so they came looking for us and we took off to another chapel and stayed there with a handful of other missionaries and members. It was nice to be with the other sisters in the mission. So there we sat in the dark of the chapel talking and waiting and talking and waiting... every once in a while we would feel a little tremble of the afterquakes. So it got light and from there they took us to the apartment in front of the office. The 5th floor there had a been a little damaged, glasses broken, on the 9th floor there had been a good deal of damage, and on the 13th floor it was a MESS. The book shelves were dumped, the washing machine was tipped over and everything else was pretty bad. Though no one got hurt. The elders said ¨it was pretty rockin on the 13th floor.¨ But the word from Presidente was that we all had to just hunker down in the aparment. Everyone came in the apartment of the Wengreens (the older couple) And there we were pretty much all day. He didn`t want any one going out. The assistants were with us the whole time, so we too heard their cell phones ringing and they were calling every 2 minutes to report that they were okay.

At this point I didn`t know how bad it was and for a long time they couldn`t get ahold of some missionaries and that was scary. The thing is here in Chile all the houses are build kind of crappy. and there are a LOT of older mud brick houses. Those are the ones that had the worst damage. There were a couple elders who lived in houses like that and their house is completely broken in half. They are staying with members and being taken care of, but that`s the worst of them. I am so grateful that everyone is okay. We finally went back to our house to grab a few things because President didn`t want us staying in our apartment just yet so we grabbed the essencial over nighters and took off again. I have to tell you, we are the MOST lucky/blessed hermanas in the mission I think because we were able to have contact with the office and the elders. We went to the office and finally they had internet and so that`s when I wrote you.

We also checked out the news on the internet and I felt just sicker and sicker. I don`t know the news today but as of yesterday they haven`t hardly had any communication in or out of concepcion. It looks like it got flattened. And the Tsunami that hit it is worse. You all see the news so you know how it is. The biggest concern for the office elders at this moment was trying to contact the families of a few missionaries that live in concepcion. It broke my heart because the elders from there kept calling in looking for word from their families. So we need to pray a lot for of course EVERYONE but for them in especial.

SO the next day we went to church not knowing what kind of meeting they were going to have, but we got there to find that there are about 10 families that are camped out on the lawn at the church. The thing is the apartments where we live are the worst built and everyone was ordered to evacuate them. Turns out that the foundation is totally screwed up and now it`s not safe to live. They are going to demolish the apartments. It was quite the sight to see our apartment in day light. Our apartment is built with brick but all along the brick there are huge cracks and I can even see the light of outside through one of them. Our window broke and our stuff got dumped, but that was all that happened. But I feel bad because for us, that is not a huge deal, we`ll just hang out with the Wengreens until they get something figured out. That wasn't our home, they are not our families, but for the people that live in that neighborhood it was everything. All along side the apartments are people camped out in their tents. What are they going to do? I have no idea. I feel so bad for them, for the members, for the people. The neighborhood from what I can tell has about 40 or 50 apartments buildings, so that`s a LOT of people suddenly without homes. Though I am so grateful that everyone is okay.

It really wasn`t that bad in Rancagua. It started in Concepcion, and I feel like the real damage just jumped Rancagua and hit Santiago bad. I know the big question is what in the world are we doing to help. I would like to know the same thing! Though the wards and branchs are in contact with the missionaries if they need help with their members, but it looks like our branch has everything under control but there are a lot of other people that don`t. So we`re just waiting for the word from President. He hasn`t wanted us to go out and work yet for various reasons, but we`re just seeing what we can do. Though having such close contact with the assistants we`ve been able to help a little in the office and we`ve bummed around with them a little bit dropping off food for missionaries that didn`t have their food storage. It`s crazy, about a month ago the pres and his wife ordered us to get a water and food supply. Right now our building doesn`t have water, but the office does so we`re just going to the bathroom and filling our water there. I think it`s like the only building here that doesn't have water, so the conditions aren`t bad. Life is going on as normal. Though we`ve driven around town a bit and we`ve seen quite a lot of those brick buildings where parts of the walls have crumbled down. I have pictures of everything, but on one of the elders camera ( I didn`t have mine with me). So I`ll get pictures out later. And a WHOLE lot of other details, but that`s the gist of it. We went and packed everything up and we`re staying in the apartment of the Wengreens right now so we`re okay. But I hope we can get some good service out there right now. But for now I hope that everyone prays like crazy for the people in Concepcion. My time is waaay up. But I love you all so much and don`t worry, just pray a lot for the other people.

I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!

!ERNESTO SE BAUTIZÓ!

Welp, I don`t have a ton to say this week, except that !ERNESTO SE BAUTIZÓ! And it was wonderful. He was soooo nervous! This whole week leading up to his baptism he`s been so nervous, but excited. Les cuento una historia… We told him about the interview that he was going to have to have with our district leader before his baptism. So he would know what to expect, but even though we did that he thought about it too much and just about made himself sick of anticipation. We went to see him the morning of his interview and he told us about how he was so worried about it that he was up until 1:00 in the morning praying that everything would be all right…. Oooh! This just about broke my heart! But we reassured him that everything would be alright. He told us he felt like a bride before her wedding (haha, I got a kick out of that, but he was serious!) He passed his interview with flying colors and proceeded to his baptism el Domingo. And it was wonderful. Though I sat by him in the baptismal program and I noticed while we were singing he was shaking. But you can see in the picture that I sent that he is such a sweet old man, and I have really enjoyed seeing his change and excitement to take this important step in his life.

Other great news…The other day we were knocking doors and found ourselves at the apartment of two little black girls from Colombia. There weren`t any adults there so we set an appointment for another day. Usually if they are little kids, we don`t set up appointments because it doesn`t really work out. But I REALLY wanted to teach them, because how often are you going to run into black people from Colombia?? They were cute too J So we went back yesterday and to our surprise the little girls were there, but their aunt and uncle (Monica and Jairo) were. And they invited us in!! And we taught them and it was a wonderful experience. They are smart people and very interested and especially interested in how the gospel helps families be happy. Sounds like they`re looking for some spiritual guidance and they felt that it was more than a coincidence that we were able to stop by. So I`ll keep you updated on them, I hope to meet the little girls too!

AND In 2 weeks Elder Scott is going to come and speak to OUR stake. And just our stake. Woohoo! I am excited for this J

ANNND, well that`s about it for this week, Thank you for writing me, I love my family so much.

Hasta luego!

Hna. Jones

Villa Teniente

Howdy howdy howdy

Okay, so here I am in Villa Teniente. It`s been… a really long week. Probably the longest one of my whole mission. Buuuuut, that`s alright, because I`m learning a lot of stuff being here with Hna. Motta.

And good news is that we have a baptism this next weekend! It`s of an old man of 66 years named Ernesto. He is so sweet, and is so happy that he`s found the gospel. He`s only been listening for a couple weeks now, but he always says how his life has already changed a ton. I don`t think I`ve met anyone quite so determined to do whatever it is that the Lord asks him. At the end of one lesson, we left with him a Word of Wisdom pamphlet to read so that we could talk about it the next time. When we got there and asked him about it he said that the day earlier he was reading the pamphlet and it just happened to be right before he had eaten breakfast. Like everyone else here he`s big on coffee. Though when he read it, he decided for himself that he wasn`t going to drink any more coffee so he had something else for breakfast and got rid of his coffee. We didn`t even have to commit him to live it!! He says that when he goes to church he feels like he`s walking on the clouds. He feels the spirit so much and recognizes it. He has had a lot of personal spiritual experiences and confirmations with prayer and his heart has been so deeply touched. It is wonderful! Right now he is struggling with the dilemma that he wants so badly to tell his 4 kids about his decision to be baptized and share the gospel but he is scared that they are going to reject him for his decision. So he`s praying for this and has the faith that everything will work out well. He is a great example to me and I am learning so much from him.

We also just started teaching a family and all are members except the Dad and daughter. Right from the beginning I took a liking to this family because they are so open and warm and the Dad, Milton reminds me SO MUCH of MY dad. He even looks like him…quite a bit actually (I showed them pictures of Dad and they were like ¨WOOOWW!! He`s the same person!¨ Well… Milton has listened to the missionaries since years ago but is so hard hearted (says everyone) and for this he hasn`t accepted the gospel. But recently he has started to accompany his family to church and every time we leave him something to read he reads it! The first time I left him Alma 7 and he loved it. He said that the scriptures about the atonement really got to him. He gets excited about what he`s read and the honest truth is I see SO Much potential. I see him thinking and I see him receptive to the message. I really want to continue with him though my struggle is that Hna. Motta doesn`t like their family for something that the 16 year old daughter said (she got offended) and she says that there is no way Milton is going to progress….and so I have no support from my companion. So it`s obvious when we`re there she doesn`t want to be there. When we teach them (and a lot of other people in fact) I feel such a lack of unity. It`s so hard. I really don`t know what to do. Keep praying I guess. This has been my struggle. I think also it`s because I came from Guadalupe with Hna. Olson and she`s been like my right arm and such a support and right now it`s just so different. In fact one day I thought about writing president and telling him I wanted out… haha. That was a thought for like 5 seconds and then I remembered a story that Dad told me in one of his letters that he had a rough time with one of his companions and they fought it out a couple times and went to talk with president because they wanted out and he told them ¨Tough¨ Everytime it goes bad in the life you can just call quits, you gotta work it out and keep being strong. That`s what I`ll do for the next little while. I have felt a lot of help and strength from praying. But really things are going alright. The area is awesome. It`s definitely a lot more ¨ghetto¨ than all my other areas. The Branch is also very strong and the chapel is really pretty. It really is, it`s got pretty palm trees in front and I really like palm trees, so… yeah.

We also found a little family (though they aren`t married) that is desperately looking for help because they are stuck in drugs. They are Vanessa (17 years old) and Jonathan (22 years old) and little baby Benjamin. They immediately felt that we were sent to their home to help them and are very faithful that through Jesus Christ and his gospel they will find help and hope. I feel the same way too.

Funny thing… last night someone asked me if I was from Spain. Ha ha… if not Brazil ( and people still say I sound like I`m from Brazil), then I`ll be from Spain.

Well, I hope everything is going well over there. I love you all so much. There is an Hermana here who`s husband died of a heart attack at a church campout just a couple of years ago. When she told us the story it broke my heart so deeply and I cried with her. It made me think of my Dad, and my mom and family and how much I love you all so much, I don`t know what I`d do without you. So as I will take care of myself, you all too need to take care too! I love you so much!

CHAAAOOOO

Transfer to Rancagua

Alrighty then... I have a lot to tell ya`lls...

I`ll start with the baptism of Carolina. It was beautiful! Her whole family went and it was very touching. Though with her baptism came a little drama. But only personal deep down drama.... Let`s flash back to my time in Graneros. Remember Sergio? The very special cute old man that wanted so desperately to get baptized, but couldn`t because he couldn`t get a divorce? Well, If you don`t remember it was really hard for him and for us too, but he continued working for his divorce. ...Now flash forward to last Wednesday at about 10:30pm. I get a call from the assistants to the president with good news. That things got all worked out and that Sergio was going to be bapized that Saturday. At 6:00pm. And I had permission to go back to my old area and be there for his baptism. I nearly died. Because the baptism of Carolina was going to be Saturday at the exact same hour, so I couldn`t go. I got all stressed out because I knew how much it would have meant for Sergio and Ilda for me to be there, AND I wanted to support them. Okay, I thought, We`ll just see if it`s possible to change the baptism of Carolina to Sunday So I could go to BOTH. Easy cakes, I thought. Hna. Olson and I prayed and crossed our fingers and prayed some more as we talked with the mom of Carolina. When we presented the new schedule, she simply said ¨No, It will be more comfortable for us to do it Saturday...you haven`t already changed it right?¨ What Carolina´s mom didn`t know was the ¨why¨ for the schedule change and I didn`t have the selfish heart to tell her that I want to change the baptism of her daughter so that I could to go another baptism. I am sure they would have felt bad and not important. So I didn`t say anything. Just ¨Okay. Saturday it is.¨ But inside I was shouting ¨No! But you don`t understand, it`s SERGIO, it`s GRANEROS!!¨ `But... in the end it all worked out well. The baptism was absolutely beautful and I am so grateful we could be a part of it. Though Hna. Black yes, went to the baptism of Sergio and since she lives with us she showed us the pretty pictures. He looked so happy! The sisters from Graneros baptized a little girl also at the same time and the person that baptized the little girl was LEONARDO!!! (The dad of the family that we baptized). Hna. Black said that everyone was asking for me and Yessica cried because she thought I was going to come. When Hna. Black told me this and when I saw Sergio and Leonardo in the pictures I started crying too. I don`t know why, really, in fact it was one of the most beautful things that has touched me in the mission - Sergio being able to be baptized and Leonardo being able to do a baptism. Though my heart hurt so deeply because I couldn`t be there, and because they felt bad that I didn`t go. I cried a lot. A lot a lot, but I am incredibly happy for them and touched and overwhelmed with gratitude.

....My other news is that I have left Guadalupe this morning. I don`t think it has sunk in quite yet. I hate, but absolutely HATE saying goodbye. I actually only said goodbye to a couple people because it`s a terrible feeling. Instead I just left letters. Though last night we had one more lesson with Karina y Pablito. I was so nervous telling them. Karina cried a lot, and that was painful. Right when we got up to go, Pablito ran upstairs and came down again with his stuffed fozzy bear and gave it to me. That was even more painful. Then he gave me a hug (shhh, don`t tell anyone).... I don`t remember anyone telling me about this part of the mission. Leaving people that you love so much. Or maybe they did but I don`t think I believed it could be so bitter-sweet. Wow. I`m all choked up right now writing about this.

Well, if you were wondering I am in Rancagua now. In an area called Villa Teniente. It`s PURE APARTMENTS. I don`t know anything about the area or the ward yet, but I hear it`s a good one. There are a lot of people. My companion is Hna. Motta. She is from Peru. I`m excited, but kind of nervous. Presidente only puts companion with Hna. Motta when he trusts them a lot. I guess it`s been hard for her to work hard and be obedient, but I know this transfer will be a good one. I am just going to love her a lot :) Also, we`re sharing the area with the assistants to the president. I`m a little nervous about that one too... I really can`t mess up now!! (jk...hopefully...) Anyway it`s kind of nice to be in the main stream of things again (being in Rancagua).

Well, I think that`s about it for now. Everyone tells us here that there is a whole load of snow in the USA. Is there snow there? It`s still hot here.

Okay, I love you so much, thank you for everything. Be good!!!

!CHAAOOOOOOO!!!!!

Hna. Alison Jones

Manuel and Victor

Bueno…

This week was definitely a lot better than the previous week. The whole thing with Manuel and Victor turned out to be a very interesting situation. In the end Manuel ended up getting cold feet and turned around half way to Pichilemu and came back. We had a couple of awesome lessons again and everything was going well... until ....well, let`s just say we ran into another problem. We probably wont be teaching them for much longer. Which is terribly sad. But like you said, I am sure it just isn`t their time yet, and the seed has been planted. We`ll leave the details of that story for another day...

We had another awesome lesson with Elena... She is so awesome! I am convinced that Heavenly Father has prepared her and it is definitely her time right now to accept the gospel. Everything has just worked out nicely. She got a new job this week (she says at her anterior one she was suffering) She just broke up with her boyfriend who was living with her (woohoo! He`s out of the house!) and she is LOOKING for the truth. It was awesome, she had read and prayed and feels all together better since she started investigating. She said it was really weird how she suddenly has desires to read and pray and GO TO CHURCH, whereas this never happened before. She is very receptive to the spirit, and she recognizes it when she feels it. Things are going so well with her. The only thing is we can only teach her a couple times a week. But things are going well!

This week we have a baptism of a little girl 11 years old named Carolina. Her family is returning to activity in the church and she is very excited for her baptism. We are excited too!

Francisco regularly goes on divisions with the Elders. This makes me happy. He is doing very well.

There are transfers this week. This means that most likely I am going to leave this area. I think I will cry. But there is also the chance that I will stay here another transfer NOBODY KNOWS ooooohhhoooooo....

It has gotten so hot that they changed the schedule to studies in the afternoon until 5 o clock instead of studies in the morning... that`s weird being in the house at this hour but it`s good because I just about die at 3:30 working outside.

I am doing well, I love the mission, I love this work. I know it`s 100% the work of the Lord. I love my family too.

LUCI HAD BABIES!!! (Little Ricky, Bow, Wow, and Blanquita)

¡Hola!!

First thing… Muchas gracias por las fotos!!! Me gustan mucho! I especially got a kick out of the old school pictures that you sent. And thanks for writing me! Yes, dad, I am getting down wit da groov groov dawg thang. Don`t you worry your little head. Looks like everyone is doing just fine and dandy. I can`t believe that Danielle is going to be in college next year either! And I am so proud of Erik for fulfilling his goals and dreams in the career field. We`re just a pretty cool family, huh? I like my family a lot.

Well… I don`t really know where to start… I am going to be honest when I say that this week has been one of the hardest. It has been difficult physically, EMOTIONALLY, and spiritually. We`ve had some big time downers. Oscar won`t be getting baptized any time too soon (turns out he was lying about the word of wisdom) and that was really hard for him, which made it really hard for us. Manuel and Victor have been doing great, but in a couple weeks (before they would be ready to be baptized… Manuel is in the process of quitting smoking…and drinking…and it might take a little time ) they will be moving to Pichilemu for summer work (at the beach) and they have been in Pichilemu this weekend so we haven`t been able to talk with them. I am not sure why exactly, but it`s been a really hard hit for me. They (liders, preach my gospel) always say that we shouldn`t get discouraged, and I`m not discouraged but definitely very sad. Hna. Olson and I have developed a genuine care and concern for them. I love them like they are my brothers and I know this gospel will bring them such great joy, relief. Though all hope isn`t lost, once we talk to them we`re going to find out where exactly they will be staying so the missionaries can find them in Pichilemu. We have had a couple problems with the Elder in our sector. Things were done, and things were said that weren`t very pleasing. And that has been hard for me. But everything is alright now. BUT EVERYTHING IS ALRIGHT NOW. It`s like that talk that Elder Uchdorft gave in an Ensign that talks about how above the dark rainy clouds, there is ALWAYS sun shine and good weather. And today I feel happy, it`s a new week. We actually had a wonderful experience yesterday with a family (Mom, and 2 children) who want to get baptized and we found a woman of GOLD. Shiny GOLD actually. She is looking for guidance and felt such a peace when we shared with her last night (We found her knocking doors at the very last minute of the day… ya gotta endure to the end!) And Hna. Olson has been an angel for me. She has a lot of patience for me. I am glad that we`re going to be friends forever too.

AND LUCI HAD BABIES!!!!! The other day we left the house and Luci and Ricardo were standing at our door waiting for us, to share the good news. We followed them a couple houses down to a house that no one lives in to find 4 chicitios. They are named Little Ricky, Bow, Wow, and Blanquita. We (with the help of a neighbor lady) we built a makeshift tent so they could have protection from the sun. Don`t worry, it didn`t take as much time as it looks.

I love you so much, thanks Danielle for writing me too! (I`ll write you back next week). I love you love you love you so much!!!! Thanks for your words of encouragement and love. I don`t know what I`d do without my family.

Chao

Hna. Jones

Pablito and Karina Update...

¡Hola hola hola!

Alrighty Pablito and Karina are doing SO WELL!! It was the cutest thing ever when we went to visit them a couple days after their baptism and confirmation. Turns out Pablito has a terrible fear of the dark and of being alone. He can`t sleep alone, and he can`t go up the stairs alone, but always ALWAYS has to be with someone. Well, the night after their confirmation he and Karina read the scriptures before bed and then Pablito said that he was going to go and sleep by himself. He said that he could do it now because he had the holy ghost their to protect and comfort him and that he wasn`t actually alone. How awesome is that!?? He has slept alone ever since  It is very special to listen to him and his testimony. We were talking about Christ and he said out of nowhere ¨I can`t wait until Jesus Christ comes again¨ I asked him why, and he said that he want`s to see him and be with him (physically). It was very touching.

We have started teaching a couple of brothers named Manuel (he`s 24 years old) and Victor (he`s 21). They both are very interested in the message and want to be baptized!! It`s awesome because they both are kind of like ¨cool guys¨ big and muscley and Manuel`s arm is covered in tatoos. But they are like humble little children when they listen, with lots of sincere questions. It`s hard to find them both together though. The other day we had a lesson with Manuel and the ward missionary Alex came with us (he`s a recent convert of about 8 months). We read 3 Nefi 11:14-15 with him, and talked about how Christ wants us all to come unto him, and how he loves everyone of us and that we too can come unto him, and ¨touch¨ his hands and come to KNOW him. We talked very shortly about this and then asked Alex to share his testimony of Christ. When the missionaries (Hna. Alvarenga was one of them!) found Alex, he didn`t believe in Christ or God. And wasn`t a very pleasant person (as he says). But obviously he has had a mighty change of heart. Alex testified to Manuel a simple but powerful testimony of Christ and the power to change through him. I felt the spirit so strong. We confirmed his desires to be baptized and Manuel answered with a definite ¨Sͨ.

We are also teaching Oscar. He is very special and is bursting with excitement about his baptism this weekend. ....

Did I mention that is is HOT here?? Well, it is. I actually don`t think it has gotten much hotter than 90 degrees, but the HUMIDY is killing me. The air feels so THICK. I often think it would be more efficient to make swimming strokes with my arms as I`m walking. Or maybe not. People would look at me funny. But they already do look at us funny so.... Okay, okay, so maybe I`m being a little dramatic. But I feel like I`ve been pretty good at not complaining too much this summer (It`s summer here!). I won`t complain about the heat for a while now ;)

Today we are going with the other Hermanas to ROME!! There`s a small pueblo in their area called ¨ROMA¨ and supposedly it`s really beautiful. So we`re going to go and have a picnic. Right on, dude.

After arriving home last night and planning Hna. Olson shouted ¨It`s FRIDAY NIGHT, WOO!!!¨ Because as a missionary ya work all hard up until Sunday night and the following day is like Saturday because it`s P DAY. It was funny. Though we don`t seem to party like Friday nighters. I made no-bake cookies and we went straight to bed (exhausted).

Wow crazy, huh? I didn`t know they sent flight itinerarys so early. But I guess that`s pretty cool, huh? Thanks to you both for sending me emails. I love hearing from you. I feel your love for the Lord and for Me. I love my family so much. I love you mom and dad so much. I truly couldn`t ask for better parents. And brothers and sisters (even though they don`t really write me...I know, wo is me, huh?) Nah, truth is I am exceedingly happy. I am loving life in the mission, even if it has thrown me a few lemons :P

Ok, mucho amor les mando. !Hasta la proxima semana!

CHAOOOOO!!!!!

Pablito and Karina got baptized!!!

Pablito, Pablo, y Karina

The ¨just baptized¨ are a little revealing, but I love this picture the same.

Me!
Hno. Arriagada (lider misional), Oscar, and Diego


Luci and Ricardo

Tiger spider. Yes, that is in our house, no, it wasn`t killed because NO ONE WOULD KILL IT!!! Supposedly it kills the ¨bad¨ spiders. Hna. Olson Named it FREDDY. And Freddy supposdely still lives because it is going to save us from the bad spiders aka the RINCÓN spider.


Okay… bad news first… JK there isn`t bad news!

KARINA AND PABLITO GOT BAPTIZED!!!! It was the most beautiful thing ever. They were both really nervous, but more anxious. They had a lot of support from their family. Karina right now is ¨seperated¨ from her husband. They have just had a rough time together. But he came to support them as well and he came to their confirmation. He has listened to us before but hasn`t really had much of an interst, but their baptism was really touching for him. He became emotional in the service. The elders from another sector here are going to be teaching him and we`re hoping that this can bring them together again and that he can be baptized too!!!

But more importantly it was VERY special for Karina y Pablito. When pablito was baptized he left the water saying ¨!Me siento bien! !Me siento bien!¨ or... ¨I feel good! I feel good!¨ It was so cute. He walked around the chapel for the rest of the baptismal service with a goofy smile and a goofy walk because it was like he was walking on clouds. When Karina was baptised she left the waters and gave Pablito a hug (she was baptized last) and then she broke down and started crying. She felt such a relief. She felt so overwhelmed with joy. It was very touching. I love this. I love seeing these people feel the Savior`s love. I love seeing them so happy, changed, touched.

We were pretty much walking on clouds too the rest of the day.

And then there is Oscar. Remember him? He was the one that served us broken bread and a small glass of water in a lesson becase that`s what we like in our church. He goes to church every Sunday but in the end he didn`t want to be baptized becasue he didn`t want to obey the word of wisdom. But he has had a mighty change of heart after seeing a few baptisms and told himself ¨Basta con tè!¨ If everyone else can be baptized, why not him too? He is OVEREWHELMED with engery and excitement to be baptized.

We also met another woman named Elena. She also wants to be baptized and had shared a year ago with Hermanas, but they left her because she just couldn`t quit smoking or reading tarot cards. Yes, tarot cards. Just days before we found her she had commited herself to stop reading tarot cards and is on her way to be baptized too... it`s really interseting teaching her but she`s hilarious so I love it too. I`ll keep you updated on this one...

And Luci and Ricardo are our friends. Ricardo slips in our fence every night to sleep on our lawn. Luci sleeps outside the gate because she`s too fat to get in. But they`ve been staying with us every night for a few whole weeks now. It`s hilarious!

Aaaannnnddd.... I want you to know that I love you so much family!! Thank you for writing me, thank you for thinking about me. I love you with all my heart.

CHAOO!!

Feliz año nuevo‏

When the time comes I am going to miss these people. I will have to live it up good right now because I only have this transfer left here in guadalupe before they change me again. And time goes by so fast. I am still so excited for Pablito and Karina. They are more excited than ever too! She had a few problems with the word of wisdom, but she has been living it faithfully for a while now! Woohoo! So they are doing well. They will be bapized this Saturday. Hna. Olson and I are trying to find more people. We have found quite a few people that are really great, receptive but in the end it seems like they all have to leave on vacation for 2 months or work every day and don`t have much time, so that`s been a little difficult but we`re still workin hard!

I mentioned that we were going to have two elders in our area now. They are both from the USA. They are good workers. We started this week all excited about the changes. Though the truth is, this week has been...interesting... I think one of the elders ( who is also our district leader) has had bad experiences with Sister missionaries before or something like that becuase it feels a lot like he sees things as a competition...who can find more, has more success. We haven`t felt a lot of unity. It`s weird. I shared an area in Machalí and Graneros wih sisters and not once we felt the need to compete. We felt a lot of support from the other sisters actually. Who knows. We`ll just have to show him that sister missionaries are not all that bad after all...whaddayathink?

Some REALLY happy news... Fransisco, who was baptized in November was just called as ward secretary. It`s happy because Fransisco is perfect for this calling and to serve. He is nervous, but really excited for his call too. I love hearing him share his testimony with investigators or in lessons. He can`t describe the change and joy he has felt since his baptism just a month and a half ago. It`s sa-weet!

I had a good new year. We (Hna. Black, Pastrana, Olson and I) ate lots of food, played ¨UNO¨ and stayed up until 12 (woohoo!) to celebrate. The next day we had an activiy just like the christmas activity with our zone and played water balloon vollyball. Because it`s hot here....not like there....