Anthonys experience during the earthquake.

Hey Everybody

I'm alive. I will now recount the story of the experience.

It was 3:30 in the morning and I was doing what any missionary should be doing: sleeping. Suddenly the bed starts shaking and there is a load rumble. The first thing that crossed my mind is what is this crazy Latin doing now. Then it continued for about 2 minutes or so. I was annoyed and wanted to sleep. We just stayed in bed. Then a few seconds later there was another really small tremor. We then heard a lot of noise out side and went to look. There were people running in the streets and cars leaving like crazy. At that time, we thought something might be going on. Then a firefighter that we taught comes down the street and tells us to stay in the door for the aftershocks. We stayed there for about 3 hours because they never stopped. Eventually I said this is crazy and went back to sleep for a while. When we got up (again) we had sunlight. It wasn't until then that we saw what happened. All of the stuff on the shelves fell to the ground, the fridge moved into the middle of the floor and the table as well. It took almost an hour to clean it all up.

Then not thinking it was anything super serious, we went out in shirt and tie and thought we would work. Then we saw some of the damage and went back to the house, changed our clothes and went around to the members and investigators to do service and make sure they were OK.

Everyone kept saying there would be another one, but it never really came. So that night I was a little worried to sleep because I thought it might come at night, it didn't. Other then that we have just been doing the same thing all week, teaching a little, not doing contacts because nobody will listen and trying to do service.

So I'm sure that you all heard about the robbing that's going on. It's even going on here in tiny Coelemu. They are robbing the houses here during the night because everyone (not including us) is sleeping in tents in the parks and fields. Tuesday night, the people decided to search for the robbers. Apparently the lights that were shining in our windows were for the robbers hiding in our back yard. I'm glad I didn't know that while I was sleeping. When I saw the light it bugged me and I rolled over and went back to sleep.

Then Thursday we were called to go to Tome to help there with the food the Church had sent. Well the buses still aren't running to Tome so we went by "dedo" (we thumbed a ride) that was an interesting experience. Apparently it's not against the law here and a lot of people do it. We were there for two days helping. We moved two shipments of 5.5 tons of food in twenty minutes each. That was cool.

Yesterday we worked almost as if normal. The people here are starting to return to normality and everything is fine. This week, everything should be like it was before, just with a little more service I think.

So really my story is lame, but that's what it is.

I'm fine and don't have a single problem. Thanks for your prayers and support. Love you all.

Elder Maxfield

Eathquake in Chile

As you all know Saturday February 27Th there was an 8.8 earthquake in Chile. We are not exactly sure how close Anthony was to the epicenter. We know that he was too close for comfort. As a family we decided to have a special fast for Anthony and the people of Chile. We are grateful for all our friends and family that took part in the fast with us and for all the prayers and support.

We were told on Sunday that all the missionaries were told by church leaders to call home and let their families know that they are safe. Sunday passed no phone call, Monday came and gone no phone call. Tuesday things started getting harder not knowing how he was. We knew from his letters that he was in a little farm town and from the news that communications were down all over. Wednesday the entire family was having a hard time staying strong. We know that he is in the hands of our Heavenly Father and that he would be safe and protected.

This afternoon Anthony was able to call home. His call wasn't very long but he said that he was safe and everything was fine. He also sent an email letting us all know that he was safe. He said that they are staying Toma in a chapel with other Missionaries and they have been doing nothing but service to help the people of Chile. There is not a lot of damage in Coelemu they just didn't have power until yesterday but they have had food and water.

Anthony is where he needs to be right now. He has a lot of skills and knowledge to help the people of Chile rebuild after the earthquake. Thank you all for you support and prayers.

Happy Valentines Day

"So this week went by so fast it's crazy!!! So much happened and I have a lot to tell you.

So Tuesday morning I woke up and my leg hurt really bad. I took off my covers and saw a visible huge bump on the back of my calf. I jumped out of bed and the second I put pressure on it, I collapsed! At first I was thinking I had some sort of disease or something. Then I started to rub it and realized it was a huge knot. Then I worked it out for a while but when I walk every once in a while I get the pain again.

So the family that we are teaching let us do some service for them. Guess what we did. We ¨cut the grass¨ I got a blister in my hand to prove that I worked hard that day. Also they wanted me to pray in English after a lesson and I couldn't do it. It was the hardest thing in the world for me. It was probably the slowest prayer that I have ever said, including when we first started in Spanish.

So I spoke again in church yesterday, Not very often my eye!! But it went well. It was a lot easier for me and I think the congregation understood it. The topic was a bit easier though so that did help. Also we started a class for English. It was fun. The people there enjoyed it and I think it went well. We played a few games I learned in the MTC to help me learn and we will continue to have the class once a week.

The food is starting to actually taste good and the soda doesn't make me feel sick anymore. I just don't like it burning down my throat. I try to avoid it as much as possible.

Well that's all that's going on here in Coelemu, hope everything in the states is good to. Love and miss you all.

Elder Maxfield"

First Letter from Chile

"Hello Everyone,

This past week has been really hard for me because i am here now and know NO Spanish. At the end of the MTC I remember thinking, I will be OK, I know a lot, yeah NOT! What makes things worse is that my companion doesn't speak English. We have trouble communicating sometimes but I am learning very quickly because of him and because I have to. His name is Elder Bordolli and he is from Argentina. Just my luck, I get one of only three Latins in the whole mission. It's a blessing because I am learning a lot so it's OK.

My first place here is called Coelemu. It is a small town an hour bus ride out of Concepcion. We live in a small house that I can only describe as a civil war house with a few extras. Its small, everything is wood, our hot water comes out of a shower that is heated by way old scary looking, want-to-be water heater. It's run by gas. We have to do everything to get it ready to use. We are the only missionaries there and the closest others to us are 45 minute bus ride away. I was thinking I was going to Concepcion and then when I got here I realized that the mission is a lot bigger then only the city. Today we have to do everything to get my visa and go shopping. We have one of the largest areas in the mission. It covers Coelemu and everything within a 30 minute bus ride of the city. The city is small only has 1 stop light, with about 8,000 people. We walk everywhere except for meetings with the district, or conferences. on Tuesday we have district meetings in Tome, also an hour bus ride away, and this we on Thursday, we have zone conference with half the mission.

Everyone travels by bus here. They are so crowed the seats will be full and the entire aisle will be full as well. These buses are like greyhound buses, not school buses or Uta buses so you can imagine how many people that is.

As of 2 days ago, it was like a light bulb went off in my head. I was suddenly able to understand about 60-80 percent of what people say, when they speak clearly. They talk really fast and a lot of them mumble really bad. Those people, I don't understand at all. Also they don't say the S at the end of words which took a while to figure out, but it's bad because sometimes it changes the word and then I'm not sure what they are really trying to say. In Coelemu there are tons of farmers and my district leader said that because that is where i am learning my Spanish, I will talk like a farmer. They say I will most likely be here for 6 months but with Elder Bordolli for 3 and 3 others with someone else. I get mail at district meetings (Tuesdays). It feels like it's been forever since I heard from any of you. I'm not sure how I will send letters home but I will find out tomorrow. I love you all a lot and miss you all tons but I am having fun here (when I understand them).

Hope to hear from you all soon, and please continue to pray for me, because I really need the help right now. I'm not very home sick because of the distance like I thought I would be, I'm home sick because I can't communicate and everything is different. It will be OK though. Love you all lots.

Elder Anthony Maxfield."