Stories of Tears and Smiles of Joy and Happiness.

Well well, Another week in Chile has flown by.
This one was a little tougher than most ... But I´ll share why.

First off, We have been visiting and teaching a man and his wife named Ramone and Angelica. They own a shoe repair shop on on a street near we live. Very very neat people...so in love. They are pretty poor but are always smiling. We loved to Talk to ramone because he is so smart and knows the bible like the back of his hand. He shared with us a couple months ago how he has always read the bible but when he got cancer years back, his relationship with God grew even stronger. He was very close to dying but he Beat it! This 5´11 strong man had gotten down to 85 pounds. I always loved to go visit him at his shop because he would make the neatest things out of leather. He was definitely a handy man. We got really close with his wife and him. A couple days after the earthquake we went to check on him and his wife and make sure they had food and supplies. Their house didnt have much damage but Angelica shared with us that they found out that Ramones Cancer came back.

Since that day he has spent his time in the Hospital and in a hospital bed in his home. It is very hard for me to see him laying down in that condition because he is a Working man... He could barely move. He always would ask me to sing for him because it reminds him of angels he says. I always would mess of the words in spanish but he didnt care...he just would always tell me I need to record my voice haha. Well Friday Night, we found out that Ramone passed away. I have a gulp in my throut as I write this...

This weekend Hermana Conley and I have spent helping with his Funeral. This man was a family-neighbor man. Everyone knew him...so HUNDREDS showed up to his viewing and Funeral. His wife asked me to sing his favorite song for him at his viewing and my companion shared a message. And then at the Cemetary, My companion and I sang to close the Funeral.  The spirit was so strong that day. . .And although there were hundreds of her family and friends there, She wanted us right by her side during the Funeral.

The experience was rough, sad, spiritual, and full of mixed emotions but it was another Testiment to me that I am where I am supposed to be. I cant understand everyone, I cant speak near as good as I want to, I cant always communicate very well but I absolutly LOVE this people. I am so thankful for the comforting feeling of knowing if we live our life according to the will of God, we will have to opportunity to return to live with our Heavenly Father again along with our Brothers and Sisters.

I love this gospel and this church. It gives me the guidance I Need for my life and is helping know how I want to live the rest of my life. I will update you next week on the amazing things that have been done with YOUR donations. I have so many stories of TEARS and SMILES OF JOY AND HAPPINESS.

I love you all and miss you!! Thank you for your letters!
Paige
-Hermana Conley