Hello!

FAMILIA! 

Hello! I´m welcoming my sixth week here in the Colon Sector of Puerto Varas. This week my eyes have been opened to how beautiful my sector really is. All the other missionaries, when I tell them where my sector is, always tell how lucky I am and how beautiful my sector is. And this week, we went down to a neighborhood that we hadn´t knocked before and dang, near the water, with the volcanoes. It´s incredible. Sometimes it´s so cloudy and rainy that you can´t see the mountains on the other side of the lake and so it looks like the view from Shell Cottage on the coast. This week has been really great. I´ve decided that Elder Broadhead is doing his best to be a good trainer and I´ve just been kind of a brute because I´m a lil´stubborn. I´m working on being more humble, and forgiving and not jumping to the conclusion that people are automatically annoying. So all over, literally on every street, there are these little ´tiendas´ that sell everything from dulces to ceramic animals -- I could see how Nana owned a few of these stores. But we went in because the owner was an antigua investigadora and we wanted to talk to her. Anyway, while we were in there I bought Elder Broadhead some merengues because he had never had any. I loved them. They had all these different flavors and they were so cheap! haha. But Elder Broadhead, right when he put it in his mouth made a face like vomit. So I got to eat all the rest. This week we found Roberto. He believes in God and his wife is a menas activa and was baptized when she was 8. He didn´t want to pray our first visit to know if our message was true. But we visited him a second time and he said he´d pray! I was so happy. So he´s progessing. Then we found antiguos investigadores Eduardo and Macarena, whose 8 year old son was baptized but they couldn´t because they´re not married. They´re waiting for her divorce to be finalized with her previous husband and it takes 6 months, but the 6 months ends hopefully here in April. Things are picking up here, slowly but surely. I got my first Chilean haircut today. Aye. I can really see the weight now. Asi es la vida. I´m fat! I don´t think I told you, but a member in the ward owns a fruteria and he lets the missionaries come whenever they want and take whatever they want for free! It´s amazing. I eat so much fruit. More fruit than I´ve ever eaten in my life. And yesterday we went by to pick up our laundry (it was their family´s turn) and they gave us all this food I didn´t even know they had in the fruiteria - ramin, noodles, canned fruit and the most spectacular was a jar full of this jam stuff that taste like dulce de leche. I asked the little girl what to use it for, and she explained it to me, but I had no idea what she said. So I just put it on bread, and dipped a nutrigrain bar in it, and put it all over my sliced peras. SO good. Seriously, I´ve never loved eating so much. and sweets. I have quite the sweet tooth. Remember when I said not send me chocolate? You don´t? oh good. Because that´s all I want. Cho-co-late. I got bit by a dog this week! I was just standing there and BAM a dog came up on my right and bit my arm! I had to type this whole letter with just one finger on my left hand because my right arm is in a cast. haha. Era una broma. It didn´t even break the skin. I just had a lot of nasty slobber on my sleeve. But my companion says I´m an official missionary now, that they have this saying that you´re not official until you´ve been bitten. (he´s never been bitten...) and I sewed a rip in one of my shirts this week. I just kept looking at my work thinking - mom would be so proud. I lost one of my nametags, the clip on one, so I had to ask the zone leaders for a new one and I got it, only one problem - it´s for a certain Elder Porier...PoRIER. They spelled my name wrong. Bahaha. So lame. But now whenever I wear that one, no one has trouble pronouncing my name. It´s that "I" that throws everyone off. 
Mom: Yes, it rains a ton! and this is summer. Elder Broadhead says in the winter it´s ALWAYS cloudy and or raining --- and on top of that, it´s freezing. He´s from Idaho and he says he gets cold, he wears bundled jackets, and scarfs, and bini´s. I think I might die. I´m glad you and dad had a great anniversary. The murder mystery train sounds fun. I think you took great photos! Send me the ones you like the best in tangible form. I miss you mom. 
Dad: Good job on the anniversary! haha. So the countdown begins (or just continues) into the final month! What is the exact day? When is your last day, that´s going to be the longest day of your life. I´m attaching photos of the Fire Department here in my sector. Gotta love it. 
Aleksi - "These are mah perlsonal wurds." - Confessions
Mitchell- I don´t know why but I thought of this quote this week, "I´m a chinese WOMAN!" Remember that. haha. random. Also, I agree. I´m don´t say any of those words, and it annoys me when westerns say ´show´ instead of ´movie´ But I have to add to your list. Don´t say ´holy schnikes´ or ´fantabulous´ or LOVE IT! in a stuffy nose sort of voice. Also, those quotes are hilarious. I love the District. "He is LITERALLY your father." The funny thing is, I say that in spanish. It doesn´t sound as weird. haha. Whenever something bad happens, I tell myself - remember Jackie. (from the district one) She´s incredible. 
Cassie- you drove to Eva´s with the dogs?! Brave. Don´t you love going there. I love the Sniders. And do you remember the night I was packing and I was choosing the ties to bring? And you told me to bring this silver tie with blue and orange stripes? You probably don´t, but I do. Anways, I traded that tie yesterday for this amazing peach paisley tie with a member (Brian) in the ward. It´s so good. I´m sending a photo. 
Eva: I love my cousins! Rett better be practicing his Bball skills if he honestly thinks he can beat me...please. Rita is the cutest of all the princesses. Emree, don´t chu ever grow up. Rye Rye, don´t smoke! 
Elder Bray: That list was wrong. Orlando Florida Temple was rated a 10 out of 10. I don´t even think California was on the list. And did you get my email about Mckenzy, I got a dearelder from Elder Draper, from her. She´s calling it quits.

Also, do you think you could mail me our family history chart? I know, so random...and weird. But it´s something we´re focusing on as a mission. And some stories too. Like Nana, how did she end up in Chile. And how did she and Santiago meet? And maybe some stories from childhood. People love that you're from Chile, mom. I hope you´re serious about coming down to pick me up. Dad better brush up on his spanish. I´m excited but I don´t think about it too much because I JUST GOT HERE! 

Mosiah 5:12 "Remember to retain the name written always in your heart." 

I love you family, 

Love, 
Elder POIRIER. 

Zone

Dear family,
Zone Conference today...

this is my zone. 

miss you. 

love you. 

Love, 

Max

Rain and more rain

Wow Family!
I´m so happy you all wrote me. Minus Aleksi. I understand. It happens. I miss you all. Everytime I hear a Taylor Swift song I think of you guys. So that´s every morning while I´m singing in the shower. Some things don´t change. OH EM GEE. You´re NOT going to believe what song is on the radio right now!! Aleksi you quoted this song in your last letter!!! Ahhh. "I love you, always and forever, near or far, closer or together" NO WAY! Ok, I´m back. Well, it´s been another week here in the Colon Sector or Puerto Varas. We´ve started this new habit of teaching people in their doors and it´s been pretty effective. We´re teaching a little bit more and getting a lot more second visits. Staying positive, smiling a lot. Everytime I feel myself getting a little annoyed by chupie (companion) I hum the Gilmore Girls "La La laaaaa Laa Laa ohhh ohhh wwoaahhh" Cassie knows what I´m talking about. It happens a lot. But I´ve been way more patient and it´s honestly not as bad as I make it seem. He just doesn´t think the things I think are funny, are funny. And this happend. Water Bottle Incident. Last week after emailing, I left my water bottle - it filters water - got it at the MTC - here at the email place. And when we got back to our house I said; "I no! I forgot my water bottle at the emailing place!" and he was just like, "Oh that sucks!" and that was it, your loss. Long story short, we called the other Elders and they picked it up and gave it to me the next day. But for the rest of that day I didn´t have water and when we were walking in the streets he was chowin´ down on his water bottle filter and said, "Man, I love water! I´d die without it..." So I started humming that song...But only when things like that happen I´m like, "uh..really" But we´re teaching so much better together. and I´m much nicer and I try and laugh at his jokes even though he doesn´t laugh at mine.
Dad: We walk everywhere! It´s crazy how much we walk. Today we had a zone activity (when everyone in our zone - like 20 missionaries) get together and do something. We played futbol and football in an indoor stadium. We had to take two buses to get there. One of the areas in our sector is really far so we don´t walk there, we have to take a collectivo - a car that just drives from one area to another, back and forth all day. That area´s called Mirador - and that´s where we´ve done the door lessons. People are nicer there. And it rains a TON. or it´s super hot. or It rains and then the sun comes out and it´s hot. So it´s hard to decide what to wear - rain jacket, no rain jacket, boots, umbrella - stuff gets heavy. I want to weigh myself though because Harry´s gained some weight. My companion says he can see it in my face, I can too. Or I´m just psyched out. haha. But seriously, I´ve never eaten so much in my life. They fix HUGE portions and I´m still hungry afterwards. Last Pday I had EIGHT sandwiches for lunch?! WHAT?!
Mom: I ate Pastel de Choclo yesterday for the first time. DELICIOUS. There´s this one family in the ward - Hermano Alex and Hermana Rafaela - no one goes by last names like they do in the states, so I don´t know their last names, but she loved my talk and has given me lots of compliments on my spanish. She served in SLC Temple Square. She told me, and I quote (referring to my talk), "I want my son to talk about me - the way you talked about your mom." We´re going to their house tonight for a noche de hogar (family home evening). I told her you and dad are planning on picking me up in Chile and they told me to make sure we come and visit them when you do, they want to meet you.
Cassie: you finally emailed! Sorry about slash awkward story! hahah. I miss you bebe. Have you taken that last polaroid yet? of what! I hope it worked. Yram.
Aleksi: when will the camera be ready? You´re moving in April?! so soon!
Mitchell: So many photos! WHooo! Love you, thanks for the words of wisdom.
Eva: YES. I´m amazing. Today in soccer I got hit in the stomach with the ball and everyone was like "whooaaaa" because it knocked the living air out my body and I just walked it off. I probably have this huge red circle on my chest, but I´m defensive and a REALLY great soccer player. and I intercepted the ball in football. I´m really good. I miss my cousins so much! I keep thinking about how old they´re all going to be when I get back. Emree braces?! ahhh. Rita. Rye. Rett. I´m glad you got together with Alexa and Kate. I miss em.
Photos are of my house: inside. I´ll have to try and send better photos next week. This thing isn´t working. The sunset looked really beautiful mom. And I have no idea about the HP photos....they´re saved on my laptop though - under photoshops in one of those folders. Cassie will find them. Don´t charge much. Eva keep sending photos. I love it.

Love you family. Happy Anniversary mom and dad! Happy Presidents Day. I´ll complete one month in Chile this week!

Whoo. HP.

Love,

Elder Poirier.

BED

 La cocina

Our desks

These are my rain pants!  I wear them on top of my dress pants.  I look so cool!!!

                              

Happy Valentine's Day

.

---

My Trainer, Elder Broadhead

Buenos Dias Familia,

It seems like you´re all doing really well. Minus dad and Cassie. Just kidding, but seriously...I write every Monday so if you ever want to send me an email, make me smile or something, the invitation is open. (Cassie...Dad´s usually pretty good)
Well, Elder Broadhead is applying to college so I´ve been sitting here writing some letters. If you´ve written me, you should be getting one soon. Also, mom, did you get the package that I left at the MTC for some Elders to send home? It just had a ton of letters? I accidently send my photos home, so you said you were sending a package to me today (whoohoo!) but can you send me some pics? Everyone asks to see you guys and I have nada, minus the Calendar - which I´ve showed to multiple people, thank you!
It´s been a pretty fast week. Time on the mission is weird. The days seem to drag on forrrever but then the week's done and I´m emailing you guys again. I´m glad your activity went well mom. Aleksi I´m super glad to hear that you´re getting the camera fixed! I was going to ask about how that was going, and I¨m SUPER jealous you´ll get to use it, but as Dumbledore said, "Use it well" --- so jealous. We had kind of sad week as far as people we teach goes. We haven´t taught too much. And remember Ricardo with the baptism date...well he dropped us. We´re not even sure what happened but he won´t answer our phone calls and we went by his house on Tueday and his Sister (he lives with his sister´s family), she ran inside and slammed the door. Rodrigo and Karina told us they have family coming over for the week and they´d contact us when we could come back. It´s hard sometimes to feel like you´re being useful. You have awful spanish, people aren´t too incredibly nice because of who you represent, and your companion wants things done a certain way. Dun. Dun. Dun. Everything´s fine with Elder Broadhead but "there´s a storm comin´ Harry" --- I try not to let the little things bother me, but man are there a TON of little things. One being, spit sloshing. Guh. Has anything ever irked me more. The worst is just that he wants things done his way. Just the way we present the lesson. Which, is easy for him because he knows spanish, it´s frustrating because he´ll go through the entire lesson and how he wants it done, and then will turn to me to vomit eveything he said, back to him, in the exact way? so. I´m keeping my cool, but my gosh I´ve never had to be so patient. And one other thing -- he never gets my jokes! How frustrating. It´s like mom when she says that people either think dad is stupid or really funny. No doubt, he thinks I´m stupid. Haha, whatever. I never thought my sense of humor was so rare until I met people from the West...and then my eyes were opened. OH YES!  A story. This is what I like to call the "Bugs in my Salad" story. We´re eating at our Mamita´s house and we have a great hot meal, and then we eat the salad (we eat the salad, last before dessert) and we both scoup our plates, and start eating. And then Elder Broadhead tells me, "there´s bugs in the salad." I look. And yes, what seemed to be pepper scattered among the salad, was actually little dead bugs, tiny. I wasn´t bothered, so I continued eating. He, however, was not going to take another bite. Which was fine, whatever - don´t eat it. But then, he calls "Cynthia" over and points out that there´s bugs in the salad that she prepared. I was like, no. you. didn´t! So-rude. She just looked at him and said, "oh." and didn´t do anything. I was so embarrassed. So I grabbed another bowl of bug salad, you couldn´t even taste it. I told him, "more protein" and then I ate HIS bowl that he wouldn´t finish. And I´m proud to say, that I´m healthy and the bugs tasted fine. I lived through hair at Gator Dining, I can basically eat anything. So that was my story of the week.
Also, yesterday I was asked to speak in church. In spanish, naturally. The Bishop wanted me to talk about how my parents motivated me to go on a mission and how it´s helped me thus far. Which was great because I talked about both dad and mom´s conversion and how they knew the importance of missionary work and how it can change people´s lives, that they´ve stressed the importance to me and my siblings. Elder Broadhead actually shared something really cool with me, he said that Parents are the most important missionaries because they teach the gospel to their children. That kind of struck me, mom and dad, are incredible missionaries. And because of you and your testimonies, families all the way in Mexico and Chile are benifitting.
 I love the members here. We have a reference from the bishop about a family (a mom and three kids), so that´s where I´ll be tonight. It´s a really important cita because the bishop´s going to teach with us and they really want to be happy and he told them the only way to get their lives on track and be happy is through the gospel.
I love you family. I´m doing well and I´m happy.
Love,
Elder Poirier

Aleksi - Yes, I can see those cameras! They look so cool! How much do they cost! Ahh, don´t tempt me!
Mom - That Valentines Day package was AMAZING. Everything I needed. THANK YOU. I love the protein bars and the Little Debbies, and all the candy, thank you!
Elder Bray - I´m so happy you´re doing so well. Our area is really hard, but I keep reminding myself "There are no pit areas, only pit missionaries" --- I´m not a pit missionary. Keep up the good work! OH YEAH! Elder Draper sent me a letter full of dearelders that I got when left the MTC and he accidently sent me one that was from Mckenzie. haha. It´s short but she just says she loves you and she´s so happy you´re finally going to Nicaragua and that she might have ment someone...and...it´s over!
haha, ok no. she didn´t. but she hopes you´re happy and safe! bahaha....
Mitchell! - 21?! Whatttt? Te amo hermano.
Mom - I bought the rouder at the Best Buy in Jensen beach? idk why they wouldn´t have record of it. and I love the photos of the dogs.
Eva - Remember when you said, "so what are you going to do while all the other missionaries are playing basketball...? Awkward" WELL, I will have you know, I WON a game of knock out today! Whoo! I´m a star! So when you come to chile and everyone´s staring at you, it´s probably because they saw me win, and they´ll want your autograph.
Dad and Cassie - Monday next week. Good luck at Lacrosse, and school, and the beach. Dad, one more month until retirement?! less?! what?!

Happy Valentine´s Day!

Photos are of the TWO Volcanoes and Elder Broadhead´s Birthday. I bought him and Italian Empanada and got a normal one for myself, SO GOOD!

---

Week 2

---

To the GREATEST family on earth, 

My house

End of Week Two in Chile. Wow. So much happened in a week, it´s like Cassie says, "I have so much to tell you but when I get to the pen and paper, I go blank." So true. First of all, I´m glad to hear everyone is doing well. I´m happy Aleksi is reading her scriptures, haha. and praying. There is power when we pray. I feel it too, I pray so much more - and I prayed a lot before the mission. I´m relying so much on the Lord for help, courage, and comfort. But, I´m happy family. Mitchell wasn´t lying when he said missionary work, is work. Especailly when you don´t know what in the world anyone is saying. Stressful. Chileanos talk suuuper fast. But this week we made lots of progress with our investigators. We have three right now. Our district is struggling big time, it´s kind of small so Elder Broadhead feels like he's contacted everyone before so it´s hard to find new people to teach. But we have Ricardo with the baptismal fetcha, Rodrigo and his wife Karina. We challenged them all to be baptized the 25th of february and they all accepted as long as they got an answer that the Book of Mormon is true. Buuut they all didn´t come to church on Sunday (which they said they would) so now we have to change their baptismal dates, because in our mission you have to go to church three times before your baptism. It´s just the regla here. So that´s kind of sad. I´m a little stressed about not being able to communicate in spanish. I want to talk to everyone and I want to be myself, but I CAN´T because I don´t know what people are saying. I always start talking and then turn to Elder Broadhead to take over. haha. He´s a good trainer. But sometimes he´s really stern with how he corrects me. It kind of makes me feel bad. I'm really awful at this parents. I´m trying to be good but seriously....I´m an awful teacher and I get so nervous to speak spanish. sigh. Algun dia. Mom, the zone leaders called and said the package you sent me is here! I´m so excited, I´ll go pick it up right after this email. I love you! So you and dad both asked if there´s anything I need....haha...FOOD. I know when I was in the MTC I was like "don´t worry about food, I¨m good" but that´s when every meal was ready at my feet, now it´s all me and I want some grub! But for real. I get fed sooo so so much for lunch but by dinner time I´m starved, so this is what I´ve discovered is easy and good, Peanut Butter and Jelly. Yum. I don´t think I´ve made so many sandwiches in my life. I cherish each one. Maybe some nutrigrain bars, those are nice when I´m walking and need something to munch on. Trail mix. So good. Peanuts and m&ms and raisens. Also, I hope you´re sending me some shirts. I think I only have 5 or 6. maybe 3 short sleeves and 4 long sleeves? but whatever you decide is good. Cologne too. The Chileanos use soo much cologne so I want to fit in. hah, they do but it´s nice to feel like you smell nice even if you don´t. So today we went to Puerto Montt, a bigger city about 30 minutes away, to do some passport stuff. The bus drivers are CRAZY. It´s like the Night bus in Harry Potter. "Take it away Ern!" But for real. Whoa. I´m glad I´m alive. Also, speaking of Harry Potter - did I mention how EVERYONE says I look like him. Even the members, who are all super nice. I love the members here. For lunch we celebrated our tough week with some McDonalds, the most expensive meal of my life! gosh. But worth it. I haven´t had ice cream in like 2 weeks aka dying! haha. no. It was good though.
Aleksi: Living alone?! ahhh. I´m so excited for you. That´s so exciting. There´s a family here named the Cortez´s and they all live in the same neighborhood --- it´s like us in the future. They´re all grown up with their families. haha. One day. And I loved all those keys photos! Miss the beach and the sun.
Eva: "Is this some kind of joke to you?! Our parents war is about to become ours, FIGURE OUT WHAT SIDE YOU'RE ON!"
Mitchell: HAPPY 21ST BIRTHDAY! I miss you, you´re an amazing missionary and an amazing example. Thank you for all the advice and all the love.
Mom: Thank you for the Chesney photos, glad my baby girl is doing well. Miss her everyday. I´m glad you and the family had a nice weekend with Roya. Everytime I look into the eyes of the Chilenas I see you. Sometimes I have to try not to tear up. You look so chilena. Thank you for you support, your letters, your example, and your decision to be a member of this great church.
Dad: To answer your questions: My companion is good, he´s a little awkward when we talk to people but he´s a good trainer. We don´t laugh enough though. I´ll work on that. He does NOT get my sense of humor....I always say sarcastic stuff or joke around and he´ll always say ¨Que paso?" which is like "what happened? or Why are you laughing, nothing even happened" so...awkward...but whatever. The weather is rainy and cold and sometimes warm? AND it´s summer. Parents I´m going to DIE in the winter. I´m wearing a jacket right now and apprearently it´s the heart of summer? yeah. My area is like Hobe Sound. Just a small town on a huge lake with two volcanoes. And Dad, I just wanted to thank you for being a righteous priesthood holder and for giving me that great gift. I love you and am so greatful for your love and friendship.
Cassie: Everytime I laugh I can hear you. It´s weird, I miss you sister. I hope lacrosse is going well! Keep smiling. Be funny. Laugh.
Elder Bray: sorry my emails are so long. I only get 45 minutes and only get to send ONE email...so...feel lucky that you´re included. haha. Chile is good. I´m glad you´re doing well in Nicaragua! I don´t understand anyone either. Es la vida.
Elder V. : I´m glad you´re well! I´m in Chile! I´m in the field!

My companions birthday is on Wednesday. 21, just like my hermano. Tell me how all the photos come out. I sent them as the original files, which are huge. How did last weeks come out? Could you see them well. How do they look displayed?
I saw a dead dog this week. So sad. Quotes that make me happy: "DANG IT JIM!" "Imitation is a form of flattery, so I thank you." "Identity theft is not a joke Jim, millions of families suffer each year!"

Love you family. I have a testimony that this is the work of the Lord. It´s not easy, but when has anything easy been worthwhile? This is real.

All my love,
Elder Poirier

P.S. the photos: Bus station at Puerto Monte, Volcan Osorno right outside my house, Me in front of my house, A part of Colon. (Colon is a small area in our zone: Puerto Varas)


Love you family. To the moon and back!

Bus station