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Well, here I am at home!  One year earlier than I thought I would be.  It has been so hard to leave Chile and I will miss it so much.  Not for the food, not for the beautiful scenery, not even for the fun wood chopping, but for the people I loved and for the work I was doing.  It was the hardest thing I have ever done, but the best thing I could have been doing.  I was blessed with so many tender mercies from the Lord and I got to share my testimony of the Savior with some of God’s beautiful children in Chile!

I have talked to my doctor and he has a great plan: Get me healthy again!  I will be in AZ for at least the next three months working on that.  There will be some ups and downs, but everything is going to be fine.  My muscles might ache, my head might hurt, and my hands might be a little bit shaky, but everything will work out how God wants it to work out.  When I am finished with my treatment I will try to return to the mission and do whatever the Lord wants me to do, wherever he wants me to do it.

This week I got a letter from my companion Hermana Zortman.  She and I were together our first four months: First in the MTC, and then out on the field.  She is one of the best missionaries in the mission and one of the sweetest girls in the world.  She has blessed my life and I wanted to share with you the testimony that has strengthened mine.

Well I think the thing that has probably hit me the hardest this week is that two of my companions had to return home due to health problems. I can honestly say that I have learned a lot from all of my companions, but I will honestly and sincerely say that I learned and grew the most with Hermana Wood and Hermana Zanetta. They both had to go home for medical reasons, but they are planning on returning to the service as soon as possible, if possible. My first thought with this was: shoot i´m a danger in the mission. my comps are dropping like flies (alexis do you remember that week haha?). But i´ve decided something: the Lord has a grand work to do here in the south of Chile. He has a purpose here that is much grander than what I understand. Satan will work and work and work, but the Lord will always prevail. Due to unfortunate circumstances the mission has temporarily lost 2 of the best missionaries that it had, but the work will go on and we will do our part. I know that the Lord has a plan for my two sisters (i say sisters because I value them as such) and that with time that purpose will be discovered. I can only pray that they recover quickly and that the problems they have can be solved quickly and effectively. 

With this I have found a renewed desire to work here in Rio Bueno. I´ve realized that I have the privilege to be here in the mission, the privilege to serve the Lord and to help Him in HIS great work. Sometimes I get caught up in the "work" of a mission and I forget that it is a privilege to put on a name badge on my chest every morning that carries the name of my Savior. I´ll work even harder now. I´ll try to do the work that I know my sisters want to be doing here. 

I know the Church is true and that it was restored to the Earth through the prophet Joseph Smith. I know that it is only through the gospel that we can find eternal happiness. I know, from experiences this week, that when we really come to understand the Atonement and everything that Christ really did for us, we will develop the desire to share the message of the Atonement with everyone around us. I know that the mission is exactly where the Lord needs me right now. 

Thank you for supporting me in my mission. I know I am so blessed to have such a family supporting and loving me from the states and from their missions. I love you! Until next week!”

LOVE,

Chelsey Zortman

I testify that what Hermana Zortman says is true.  I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the only true church.  I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God.  I know that Thomas S. Monson is our current prophet today.  I know that The Book of Mormon is true.  It is the word of God and we will find all of the answers to life’s great questions in that holy book.  I know that the Bible is also the word of God.  I know that Jesus is the Christ.  He is our Savior and Redeemer and it is through His Atonement that we can be cleansed from sin.  I am grateful for the covenants I have made with God and I testify that His plan for us is perfect. “All that is unfair about life can be made right through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.” Isn't that beautiful?  No matter how weak we are, no matter how hard life is, the Atonement of Jesus Christ will make everything okay.  What a blessing it is to know that, and how important it is to share!

Thanks to everyone for all the love and the prayers.

With all my love,

Lexie