I know your prayers are working because I was protected this week!!!

Hey mom!!! :) 

I know your prayers are working because I was protected this week!!! On boy's (Spencer) birthday, we were riding on the side of the road to visit some members. The road is really skinny, and because of all the plants it's hard to tell if there is a house or a road in front of us that enters the main road. We were riding really fast because we had an appointment and were a little late. I had a feeling to slow down before we passed this one place on the side of the road, but didn't have enough time to stop completely.  As I rode pass this point,  I got hit by a truck. Thats kind of dramatic.....I got nudged by a truck! :p  He was backing out of this dirt road and neither of us could see the other.  It's was funny though because he said normally he pulls out way faster and just gets directly onto the main road but for some reason this time he didn't!  I got some scratches but nothing bad since we were both going pretty slow. We are always careful, but in times like that when we couldn't really help it, there are angels protecting missionaries :) 

Highlight of the week: Being protected and seeing how much Hermana Demetrio has grown in her testimonio and as a missionary :) She is going to do awesome in Buin and i love my cholita! :) 

Low point of the week: Forgetting to write an appointment down with a menos activa in our agenda and therefore forgetting about it. Turns out, she had made a cake to despedir my companion and had invited people over and we didnt show up. She was angry and sad, and Presidente Salinas was pretty mad too, and of course we felt awful. Never going to do that again! 

Only time we have never NOT gone to an appointment!!!! It was awful because people should at least be able to depend on the missionaries to be there and we failed,. 

If you guys could send some extra prayers this week, that would be awesome :) We just got cambios and I'm staying in Chepica, training a nueva, and Im the coordinadora for our Zone now. I really don't know how Ill be able to do all of this because any one of those 3 things is hard, but having all at the same time is.........a little heavy :

Im just really really nervous. The coordinators and trainors in my mind are the examples and the best of the best in every way. I KNOW Im no where near that point and have no idea how I can carry the load of all 3 things. The coordinators go on splits specifically with the hermanas and help them know what to improve and provide an example. They also counsel them if they have problems and give talks and things at zone conferences. They also have meetings with Presidente Warne to know how to help the hermanas and the zone improve and communicate that with the zone that we are in. Training, espécially if I have a gringa will be teaching her everything about how to be a missiopnary and I have to be 100% an example at all times or she won't learn how to be a good missionaryl. Then, Chepica is one of the hardest sectors in the mission. We have no active members and when we are working hard, it seems the results just don't come.  There's so much pressure to perform and I dont know if I can do it :/

I keep thinking about what you said last week about if you could just see what HF wants you to be it wouldn't be so bad!  I have no idea what the heck He is doing right now, but Im trying to do my best to keep that eye of faith and pray that I'll be able to serve in the capacity He has given me. 

My first Sunday, there were 18 people at sacrament meeting, this Sunday there were 13 (but the people only come for sacrament meeting).  If the missionaries weren't here there would be no priesthood and no relief society. I dont' know how to help the people here.  Just trying to keep working and fasting and praying that something will change and they'll be able to have a change of heart. This cambio is going to be a major testing point, but it will all work out  :) 

​Hna demtrio got her finger stuck in her helmet while we were riding one day, and rod with her finger on top her head for a solid 5 minutes before we could stop, one of the funniest things Ive ever seen!! 

Add ​Some freak summer storm rolled in and we got SOAKED but it was fun :) 

Love, Hermana Temple  <3

WRITE TO HERMANA TEMPLE AT :  Dominique.temple@myldsmail.net

A Brighter Future Ahead

We actually had a baptism this week!!! Her name is Valeria and the hermana I replaced contacted her right before she finished her mission!  Her story is incredible but I don't have enough time to explain it all this second. :/  The part that was most amazing about her baptism, was seeing how free she felt from it. She had made a lot of mistakes in her life, and felt so burdened by guilt and by the sorrow it has caused her and her family . When she exited the font, she was glowing and it was obvious that all of those heavy feelings had left her. She has such a committment to do things right and to follow the Savior, and has experienced the joy that comes through repentance.  Sometimes thatss a word that strikes fear into peoples hearts, but repentance always means a brighter future ahead, and it's been a miracle being able to see a change in people through this gospel.  To see people who once felt so burdened and alone for the first time look to the future with hope because they KNOW that the things that happened in the past are washed away, and that through the atonement of Jesus Christ they can continually feel the peace and joy that comes from living in the way that He wants, the way that He knows will bring us the most happiness. 

This week has been one of the most stressful weeks in the mission because of a combination of things, but seeing Valeria be baptised at the end of it is the reason why as missionaries we always push through, so that other people can receive this happiness as well and live life to the fullest with their families :  ) I love you so much and am and can't wait to hear about whats going to happen next in yourlife, because I know youre being prepared for bigger and better things :) have an awesome week! :)

Hermana Temple


(You can write to Hermana Temple at dominique.temple@myldsmail.net)


More photos below and some with President Warne.

Mission President Warne on the very right end.

Enjoy the photos!

The shoes are  holding up but ill probably have to buy a new pair in a few months more :p We have been drinking a ton of water dont worry and a lot of fruit too. I actually have a question, I feel so sugared out because of the fruit, but I cant get away from it (it's all they eat here!)! Is there anything I can eat to balance out the sugar in my blood besides drinking more water?

Funny, you mentioned love in your email and dad did too!! I got the message loud and clear, and know that I need to develop more love for them than to just preach. I LOVE the quote from Jeffrery R Holland!!!! This week was brutal and its been really hard with the companion too. It's like the perfect storm out here in chepica :p But I know things will get better and it will all work out together for the best :) I love you mom and can't wait to hear from you next week! :) 

Hermana Temple

Brand New Bike,  Unfortunately the pedal fell off!

New Bikes from President Warne

​Ella es hermana lucia y tiene un bololo!!! Cuando le prguntamos como, ella dijo "porque soy bonita-po!"

We didnt just get the bikes fixed......presidente warne takes care of his missionaries and we got BRAND NEW BIKES, HELMETS, and BIKE LOCKS!!! It was like the navidad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)))) 

<3

Hermana Temple

What a place to Crash a bike!

Chepica Chile, Humitas and a lesson learned about crashing.

our house! You cant tell in this pick, but on the other side is a tiendita!

I'll try and describe Chepica a little bit for you to answer your questions. It is TINY. There is one main road, with one lane in each direction. The city part has tiny shops and parts of it look like old town temecula just not quite as kept up. The rest of the road winds past houses of every color mixed in with the corn fields, vineyards, orchards, and fields of watermelon and honeydew. It really is one of the most beautiful places Ive seen and I am so lucky that I get to go out in it every single day. :)  One of the things I really like about the people here, is that they just work to fulfill their needs. In the US and in Machali, the people are a little more prone to working to have the best of everyhting thing, which isnt bad but they were never fully satisfied. Here I really like how they work to fulfill the basics: house, food, and a few things for the house like beds and a sofa, and then once they have that, they dont worry about it anymore. People here are always together and always laughing, and though their house might be made out of plywood, they see it as the best place in the world because they have, and RECOGNIZE the things that matter I crashed my bike this week (but thats not why its broken I promise! :p ) and in a weird way it has something to do with this.

We were riding on the side of the rode and my companion was in front of me. It was getting kind of late and I wanted to go faster than she was. So when there werent any cars, I sped up and passed her. But with my luck of course there was a rock and when I hit it, I ran into a fence. It was pretty funny so luckily the only witnesses were my companion and some cows!  By the time I got up and brushed myself off, my companion caught up to me and laughing passed me so that I was in the SAME position as before my accident. If I had just been satisfied with the fact that we were going a decent speed, I wouldnt have eaten the fence. 

​More humita goodness

​Hermana Veronica bathing Eugene, the retarded duckling (can't walk or swim straight)
she found.

Looking back now I can see a lot of times in my life when I had everyone and everything I needed, but didnt recognize it because I was looking to receive the lastest and greatest. I think thats something alot of us do, and we only see that what we had was sufficient when we "crash".  If you live in the US, you are significantly richer than the majority of people in the rest of the world. The majority, have what they need and then some but still feel empty. Finding joy in the journey and developing an attitude of gratitude is one thing that will help us be happier in our lives and bring us peace. I am so grateful to have the knowledge of the gospel in my life that helps me recognize the blessings Ive received through this gospel, and for a Savior who helps me through me darkest moments of grief or doubt. The Lord always blesses us with tender mercies in our lives, and especially in our times of need, and by being grateful for what we have we will be able to be more aware of this fact and receive a fulness of joy :) I love you and have a great week!!!! :)))

​                                                       

In Al Campo. Change, Faith and a New Bike

My New Companera Hermana Demetrio

     Crazy how the time has flown right??? I'm about to hit 6 months 11 days!! So glad the time is finally flying for you too :)) 

Machali really was like the mothers womb! There I learned to have patience with myself, and here I am going to be tested A TON on having patience and loving others. Theres about 5 active members in the ward, droves of menos activos, and not a ton of investigators but hey at least we have our work cut out for us right??   Anxiety is really common for missionaries! There's so much going on, so much pressure, a lot of unpleasant things to go through, and sometimes you don't see the results you want. Then, sometimes you don't know who to talk to. But it's times like these when you have to reallllllly go to heavenly father, talk it out to someone (like you madre :)  ) and then refocus, leave everything in His hands, and get back to work. Thank you so much for being a support to the missionaries. The support of members really makes all the difference in the life of a missionary, I KNOW that now.

Did you guys do anything else for your anniversary???? :) 21 years!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)))))) That sounds like a perfect weekend :)  Spencer told me about his playing and I think your'e right when you said he'll be returning next year!!!!  

​I went and got our completo on!!!! If you haven't, you need to eat hot dogs with fresh pan, tomates, avocado, and mayo.

      No, they don't have salsa like the U, they have pebre which varies from house to house but it's chunks of tomato, cebolla, cilantto, and garlic, and a litte oil so it isn't watery or creamy.  Chilean summers are from Dec to Marzo!  February is the hottest but Machali made me fat so the summer and biking will definitely change that! 

Glad you liked the photos :) Ill send more of Chepica next week since I had to buy new batteries for my camara this week :)  Please by all means grab the book and whatever other book you like. You could try doubling your goal! We'll have to see after you reassess :) 

     LOVE that scripture that you pulled out!!!!! How offten do we miss out on blessings or personal revelation because of a lack of faith on our part??  Always, always, always have faith madre and I promise you the miracles will come :) It happened this week actually! Chepica is a rama and it is a SMALLLL rama. The missionaries are the relief society, the priesthood, and the bishops counsel becuase there just aren't many members and even fewer active members. This week was a really hard adjustment as far as trying to get accustomed to a new area, new people, and a new means of transportation (I don;t know who decided to give me a bike when I run into things all the time in my house!).  I had been praying really fervently that we will be able to make a difference here in Chepica. Second day here, Hna Demetrio got lost because she is still learning about the area too.  We had been trying to contact menos activos and investigators but no one was home because it was the Fiesta Chepicana (youtube it).  After standing in the middle of the dirt road for a few minutes we decided to knock on this one door. A girl about 27 opened up and let us in. We talked to her, and found out she had been taught by missionaries before, but had some how fallen off the grid. We talked to her and taught her more about the plan of salvation and the gospel of Jesus Christ. We could feel the spirit so strongly in this lesson, and it guided us to say the things she needed to hear and that touched her heart. At the end of the lesson, she told us she had always wanted to be baptized and we set a fecha with her to meet this goal. We still have a lot of work to do with her. But I am so grateful for the hand of the Lord that is helping this work move along.  I have seen how faith works in the lives of us.  We may not always have a ton of faith, but if we are true and act on the particle that we DO have, we will always be able to see the manifestations of the Lord in our lives :)  Chepica is going to test us as missionaries in every way possible, but I am so grateful to be here and to be a representative of Jesus Christ in His vineyard :)  I love you mom and can't wait to hear from you next week!!! :) 

We have a peach tree in our yard!

Hermana Temple :) 

Hermana Temple would love to hear from you.   You can email her at Dominique.temple@myldsmail.net

A Letter to Dad

Zone Conference

Hey DaD!! 

I absolutely cannot wait to see and talk to you in 3 DAYS!!!!!!!!!! Please make sure you have a christmas mate to celebrate the occasion and connect with those Argentine roots! 

Que bueno that the Gilmore is home! It's so great seeing missionaries return home and the differences within them. If they were good before, they are exceedingly better and it's like (Name of missionary here) 2.0. Tell me how his talk goes! 

My companion and I have had such a good week! We have really been working on being more diligent, and the blessings have been coming as a result of our efforts. We are teaching one mujer named Maria Isabel who is de oro!  She absorbs everything we are teaching and has such an eagerness and willingness to apply everything we are teaching.  We also found a family this week!  We haven’t been able to meet with them again, but they are prepared to receive the gospel and hopefully we will see more progress from them!  We are really looking for more people to teach since our sector doubled in size and the elders who had it before was not teaching anyone.  Our sector is tan cuico (rich) so sometimes it’s a little more difficult finding people to teach, but there are people prepared everywhere and we just have to look hard and be diligent to find them! 

I don’t have any breastfeeding puppy stories, but one thing that was kind of funny that happened this week was when we had divisiones.  Our coordinadora is new and she told me she was nervous for this because it was her first divisione as a coordinadora. I kind of thought to myself (why are you nervous Im the one that has to lead the sector!!) so I told her she had nothing to worry about.  At the moment, the bus arrived to take us, and the other 4 elders in our ward back to Machali from Rancagua.  We all climbed in the micro like normal and I gave the driver my pesos.  The bus then lurched forward and started driving and as I looked behind me I saw that the micro had left WITHOUT. MY. COMPANION. 

My mouth was hanging open and I was just in shock that that had actually happened, that my mind just froze and I couldn’t remember how to say stop in spanish!  I was thinking, chuta, do I jump off the bus to stay with my companion or wait for her to try and jump on the micro....all while watching her face of disbelief grow farther and farther away from the micro. Luckily, the elders say my dilemma and yelled "Pare! Pare!" for the bus to stop. She got on the micro, and just looked at me with a face that said  "this is why I was worried".  I just started laughing and laughing along with the rest of the missionaries.  The rest of the division went great, but now I always make sure my companion is on the micro before me! :p 

Hopefully you thought that story was a funny.  I thought it was, but sometimes you just have to be there! 

The missionary work is going so much better. They actually don;t have a lot of pan dulce here! For sweets they eat these really light wafers that have manjar (dulce de leche) a dentro and are always snacking on cookies and crackers! They also have an obsession with jugo and bebida to a point where they actually get kind of offended if you ask for water.......and they usually give you one of the 2 anyways!  It reminds me of My Big Fat Greek Wedding "you don;t eat no meat?!?!?!   Thats okay I make you lamb". Here in Chile "You don;t want bebida?!?!?! That’s okay I’ll make you jugo".  It’s been really fun getting to know the members, they LOVE the missionaries. We have several viejitas in our ward that are like our grandmothers. They always bring us dulces in church, and sign up all the time to make us lunch. We also have a ton of go to families that are like our older friends. Don;t worry, I don’t have a replacement mom, dad, or brother here in Chile, you guys still have those titles down pat :) 

My companion and I have really been fighting to do everything with exactness and give every ounce of our efforts in cada cosa and finish the day knowing we gave everything. One huge blessing that has come from this, is Maria Isabel.  We contacted her our first day as a companionship and it had to have been one of the most awkward contacts of my life, but by some miracle she let us in her house and we have been teaching her ever since!  She is so eager to learn everything, and even more importantly apply everything into her life!  She even made a flow chart about the relationship between various people in the Book of Mormon as she studies!  We absolutely love her and I have learned so much seeing her grow. One of the things that has really hit me about her is how much she treasures the Book of Mormon.  After reading it, and when we returned to her house to talk about it, she got really emotional and said "I just had no idea....why didn’t anyone tell me this before?".   Well, that’s kind of the whole purpose that we are here in Chile and specifically Machali!  Maria Isabel treasures the Book of Mormon, and recognizes it as the guide to help her in her life like all of us should.   I have learned so much about the Book of Mormon, but especially how much we need to place it as a priority in our lives.  I seriously have no idea what I was doing before the mission and think all the time why the heck did I NOT study it every single day for an hour???  It was always something good in my life and something that was always there, but it wasn’t placed in the highest regard as it should.  It is a gift from our Heavenly Father, specifically for us and for our benefit. There’s a lot of people that wonder why they haven’t received answers to their questions, and usually its because they aren’t also diligently reading the scriptures.  I love the line from the hymn "what more can He say than to you He hath said?".   Our Heavenly Father has blessed us with another testament of Jesus Christ to guide us and receive answers, and if we aren’t doing our part to study it, we only miss out on the blessings and knowledge of what He has already given us.  I know without a doubt that the Book of Mormon is true, and that through it we are able to receive the revelation we need to aid us in our lives.  We have everything we need to attain a fulness of joy in this life and the next, and the Bible junto with the Book of Mormon give us the blueprint on how to do so.  I love this gospel, and know with all my heart that it’s true. I never want to go back to the way I was before the mission, but that’s why we always keep moving forward and always look up :) I love you padres and cant wait to see you IN 3 DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) 

DOMINIQUE'S ADDRESS:

SISTER DOMINIQUE NICOLE TEMPLE
CHILE RANCAGUA MISSION
ALCALDE EDUARDO MELERO 883
CASILLA 2-C
RANCAGUA
CHILE

A bunch of changes.

 I've been thinking alot this week about the things I learned specifically from Hermana Rodriguez (besides basically everything about the mish). She was one of the sweetest and most humble people I know. 

Thank you so much for the package!!!! I got it last week, and was going to wait to open it, but Hma Rodriguez LOVES opening packages so we opened parts of it. JUSTO that you sent AMAZING boots, because the next day we had a freak rainstorm and it would have ruined my other shoes, not to mention I would have been way cold! THANK YOU. I'll thank you more over skype when I open the rest, It has been so nice having all of my favorite treats and they are all things I haven't seen here in chile so its like a piece of home is with me :) One more thanksgiving and then I'll be home with you, that's a definite brightside and I hear it goes by faster after the first 6 months so thats a plus too :) 

Today has been hard. We just dropped off hma rodriguez at the mission home, and there has been a lot of crying this whole week, but especially today. She was so much more than my trainor, she was one of my best friends and I love her. She is going to be taken care of in Peru and has solid plans for the future, but it still hurts to see her go :/ Ive been thinking alot this week about the things I learned specifically from Hermana Rodriguez (besides basically everything about the mish). She was one of the sweetest and most humble people I know. She was ALWAYS serving others and making little things for people to let them know that were loved and remembered. She taught me more about how to have patience and humility. I have always faltered in the things she excels in, and I know that I had her specifally to hellp put me on the path to develop these christlike attributes. Still have a looooong way to go, but there's a start! Really everything in our lives hangs on our ability to develop these attributes and for this we were given the example of Christ to follow. I am so grateful for my compie and feel so bad all the time that she had to have me!  But it is what it is and she has given me the knowledge and example to apply with the people I am with after her :) 

So this cambio brought a bunch of changes.  I'm going to receive my new companion tomorrow.  I only know this: her name is Hermana Ribeyro and she's from Brasil. She has the same time out on the mission as I do and I've heard she is insanely sweet and has a really good heart. Can't wait to get to know her and work :)  It will be hard though, because our sector has also changed.  I will have to direct the sector in Machali which is rough because I'm still figuring it out, but in addition to this also our sector was expanded so there's a large new area I am not familiar with AT ALL and there are no investigators or anything from the elders that had that part before so we are starting from the bottom up to get it working...this is called "whitewash".  Been a little stressed out anticipating this change, but it will be better when she gets here and we are able to jump in and start working.  I'm glad you liked the pictures! :) Haha right?? They really grow from boys to men during the mission! 

They really grow from boys to men during the mission!