Called to Serve - Osorno, Chile

Elder Keenan Robertson is serving in the Osorno Chile Mission as a full time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Elder Robertson left on July 16, 2013 and will return sometime around July of 2015. Missionaries have a limited time to respond to all the E-mails and letters they receive so we will include here some of his letters home so that friends and family can keep up to date on how things are going for him and his ministry among the wonderful people of Chile.

Monday, December 16, 2013

December 16, 2013

Thanks for the poem it was awesome!!!!! 

I got my suitcase at zone conference, I just forgot to tell you.  Guess what!  I got the Christmas package!!!!  All the Skittles and Starbursts are gone and most of the Chewy Sweetarts and most of the oatmeal also.  But I'm saving most of the graham crackers!!!!!  Thanks for the Christmas tree it's beautiful!  And the sticky things :) ha-ha my house is prettyfied for Christmas.

This week was ok, we didn`t teach a lot but we had three super-awesome investigators in church!!!!  That was exciting. 

Yeah, I stay pretty warm.  Do you know the saying, "if you don't like the weather in Utah stay for awhile?"  I've changed it to apply to Punta Arenas.  If you don't like the weather in Punta Arenas stay for 5 minutes. ha-ha  The days are crazy.  It will go from rain to blue sky to snow to wind to blue sky, rain, snow, wind, sunny, cold, hot.   I just described the weather every hour :) it's awesome, I love it.

The picture I sent of the family last week were members, we helped reactivate them!  They were really fun.

Skype will be the 23rd, 24th, or 25th.  We have to talk to the guy in our ward and I don`t know the time yet.  I can`t believe how close it is!

Glad things are good in utah! 

Les amo mucho! (I love you all a lot)  All you guys are awesome.  Thanks for the package, it was awesome!  Tambien, I got your letter dad from your talk it was super-AWESOME.  I liked the quotes a ton and the comic was hilarious!
Sorry this isn't super long, this week was uneventful until the weekend when we had awesome lessons and got people to church.  Picture time!!!!!!!!



This is Erica and her youngest son, Sebastian.  He is 17.  They are super, super, awesome.  We have been teaching them for a while, they came to church on Sunday!  The man is a retired doctor in our ward that goes on splits with us. We helped them with their tree!


Here is the Poem that Kyla sent:
A Missionary Christmas:

I skipped the sales after Thanksgiving, the thrill just wasn't there.
No pictures taken with Santa Claus, my decorating has no flair.
His presents are shoes, shirts, and ties, two suits and socks....no fun.
I've bought him all white clothes because....
This year I'm giving Christ my son.

I've spent more time in the temple, my testimony stirred.
I've reread November's Ensign, felt strength come from His words.
Our family prays more frequently, my tears are quick to run.
Abraham seems closer because....
This year I'm giving Christ my son.

I wonder how those Lamanite mothers, gave their sons to war?
Or how the pioneers chose Zion, their sacrifice was so much more.
My loss will be his presence, I'll miss his smile a TON.
For two years we will pray for him....
I'm giving Christ my son.

I stare at his face when he's not looking I memorize his eyes, their shine.
He's always hungered for the part of him, that makes his soul divine.  
The stories and lessons he always heard, His choice and mine are one.
I'll put my faith in God's hand....
This year, I'm giving Him my son.

Past gifts have lost their glitter, I think I finally understand
Christ's birth should be celebrated by giving Him a hand.
It's because I know Christ lives and reigns, that all his packing's done.
My gift has taken years to make, this year....
I'm giving Christ my son.

I know there's One who understands, the sacrifice I'm making,
For He had done it all before, Greater Love there could be none.
For years ago God gave to me....
His only begotten son.

The hands I washed, the hands I held, the hands I taught to pray,
Now knock on doors to find the ones, who will listen to what he'll say.
Because I know Christ needs him, until all the gathering's done.
My gift has taken years to make....

This year....I'm giving Christ my son.

Monday, December 9, 2013

December 9, 2013

We had investigators in church but none this week so that was a bummer.  So the ward mission leader asked me to give a spiritual thought about missionary work.  I just thought in the gospel principles class.  So when I got to church the first counselor came up and asked if I was speaking!  Turns out I was giving a talk in sacrament meeting! HA-HA  But it was good, I just talked about missionary work.

Zone Conference was super-good.  I got some chocolate and socks.  Afterwards we sang some Christmas songs.  That was funny.  Not much exciting happened this week, I'm kinda bummed everything just kinda fell apart.  Oh well, we had a ton of super awesome lessons.  One menos activa familia we are working with is coming to church and talking to the Obispo (bishop) about the Melchizedek priesthood and being sealed in the temple!

I need to take more pics with people. sorry:)  I'll take more.  I haven`t seen any ropes (to hang on to in the wind) but there are lots of rails to hold onto.  So far I haven't eaten seafood at all.  I know some of it is dangerous and so we can't.  But people feed us chicken and rice usually. Ha-ha, usually about the same everyday :) but it's good and I enjoy it a lot.

We're not allowed to email other missionaries in the mission so I don't know about Elder Parsons, I'm bummed! We have tons (of work) but people work a ton!!!!!!  One guy we are "teaching" is here 6 days and works outside for 26.  3 here and 13 outside!  There are jobs here but very few.  Punta Arenas is houses and not much else.  People work in big factories and ships that are all super spread out.

Dad, it's time to get a truck and give "old red" to Dallin (after putting some wheels on it).  Everything is going super good down here just work work work, I'm so tired!!!!  Love ya tons

Elder Robertson 

Me and the Perez Family from Valdivia

Elder Parsons and I

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

Monday, December 2, 2013

December 2, 2013

We have a ton of people to work with!  I don't even know them all.  People’s schedules are crazy here. Lots of the people work on big fishing factory ships and big factories on islands way far away.  One guy takes a boat to his work and, when the weather is perfect, it takes three days to get there!  Normally it takes about 8 days!  People are busy!  This was a good week, we taught a lot.  I was bummed we had a bunch of people I thought would come to church but they didn´t.

Hahaha so about it being summer here in Chile...doesn't apply to Punta Arenas :).  It snowed twice this week!  Ha-ha, and the wind!!!!!!!!  There have been a couple times I thought the house was going to get ripped apart!  I don't remember if I mentioned last week but most of the trees grow sideways!  There have been a couple of times I've almost been blown off of my feet!

Sounds like Thanksgiving was good!  I'm still kinda scared to eat meat :).   I'm glad testimony meeting was really good.  I love testimony meeting here; there a lot of really good members.  The bishop here is awesome he is brand new but does a great job.

Football is great!!!!! The Colts are going to win it all!!!! Ha-ha sounds like BYU basketball is doing freaking great!

Feel free to send letters also.  It's expensive to print and I don't think letters will take too long compared to packages.

I have a family challenge!  Everyone has to read the talk “The Book of Mormon: Keystone of Our Religion” by President Benson.  It's super, super good!

We have a ton of investigators!  You could pray for Carlos, Magdalena, and their daughter Evelyn.  They need to come to church! :)

Our heater is vented to the outside but I'll be careful, it's not on during the night.


This week is Zone conference!  That should be fun!!  Well, that's all for now! Love ya tons!!!!!

We live in a tiny part of the house to the left.