I WILL NEVER FORGET THE THINGS I SAW, THE FEELINGS I FELT, AND EVEN THE SMELLS I SMELLED....

Dear family and loved ones,

Yay! Internet has finally returned to the hills of Centinela!!! Now we have electricity, food, and we are still waiting on the water. Oh, by the way family, we left San Pedro on Sunday after the meeting with the area presidency of Chile and are now back in our apartment in Centinela with the two missionaries from Talcahuano Centro.

Anyways, it has been one crazy week, well more than a week now but you know what I mean. I've been through so much and have changed so much these past eleven days, it's crazy. My perspectiva on certain things I know has been changed forever. But I´ll start from the beginning. When I talked to my parents on the phone on Friday and Saturday they told me to give a detailed report on everything that happened from the beginning of the earthquake up til now so here it goes…

So at around 3:30 Friday on the 27th of February 2010 (¨a day which will live in infamy¨ haha) I woke up to the beginnings of the rumblings of an earthquake. At first I thought to myself, ¨Wow! this is quite an earthquake, but I´m from California so I´m used to it, I can ride it out¨ But then it wouldn't stop, and not only did it not stop but it seemed like every second it increased in strength. I then started thinking to myself ¨Holy Crap! This is an EARTHQUAKE!¨ So I started to think that maybe I should leave my bed (which is the bottom bunk) because it felt like it was either going to fall over or that Elder Sanchez was going to fall on me from the top bunk. But that thought quickly left my mind as things in our room started crashing to the ground. Then I started seeing chilean news reports of Haiti go through my mind and I also started picturing our apartment building (we are on the fourth floor) falling over. But I had already made my mind to stay in my bed so, left with nothing else and starting to actually fear for my life, I did the only thing I could do as the shaking continued… I began to pray. I prayed that we, his servants, might be protected, I prayed for my family just in case anything happened to me, but most of all I prayed for the shaking to stop and during the prayer, even before the shaking stopped, I felt comforted that I would overcome this even if the building did fall.

Then finally, the shaking didn't stop but, I felt it slow down and felt and heard the rumbling get more distant, almost like a train passing. At this point when the climax had passed and the shaking started to decrease, Elder Stevens yelled from the neighboring room to see if we were ok. At that point I ended my prayer, responded and immediately grabbed my sandals and flashlight (which was miraculously on my nightstand. Everything else was everywhere else.) and we headed out right away, still feeling that the building might fall at any minute. After we got out and had made a few steps, we realized that nobody had keys to lock up so I ran back in and got the keys as quick as I could. I felt like a firefighter going back into a burning building to save the stranded baby haha.

Anyways, after finally making it out of the stair well of the apartment building and onto solid ground (haha well not so solid but you know what I mean) we were greeted with darkness and the sounds of whistling, yelling, screaming, crying, and vomiting. People just freaking out and people trying to find their loved ones. But everyone was streaming into the streets from the apartments. The very first thing we thought of when we got out was that a tsunami could be next and we guessed we had at least twenty minutes before one hit so we immediately and quickly set out for the chapel (which is one of the highest points in our sector and in all of Talcahuano). While walking, we immediately called and miraculously got a hold of the missionaries from Talcahuano Centro and we told them to get themselves to the capilla of Centinela as soon as possible. Also on the way, we stopped by the family Fonseca´s house (our best friends in the ward) to see if they were ok. When we got there they were scared but fine and they immediately agreed to come with us to the capilla because they as well were scared of a tsunami.

In route to the capilla it was complete chaos in the streets. Not too many people in our sector have cars but it seemed like everyone who did was out in the street driving crazily to who knows where and there were people just streaming all around us with the same chorus of yelling, crying, and the occasional vomiting. All the lights in the streets were out but we had a full moon and there were a lot of car lights so we didn't have trouble finding our way. The fact that we had a full moon was a huge miracle because if there had been no moon it would have been a completely different situation. Also because of the full moon we were able to see some of the terrible destruction that happened in our sector but we didn't take the time to marvel at it. We were just going as fast as we could to the capilla. When we finally got there, we waited outside the gate surrounded by hordes of people and waited for the Centro Elders to show up. Luckily they found their way through all the people to where we were, like five minutes after we got there and we just hung out there outside the gate, freezing in our pajamas and listening to this radio that some guy had, trying to glean any information we could about what was happening.

After about 45 minutes or more we decided to make our way to another higher, less crowded, point of the sector to wait out the tsunami or to wait for the news that there would be no tsunami. When we got to the hill, we all just sat down on the ground and waited and talked while the whole time the ground was still rumbling and groaning every five minutes or so. After about an hour or so of waiting, the firefighters came by and said that we were all safe up here in the hills from the tsunami and we were all freezing cold so we decided to go wait out the last hours of darkness in the house of the family Fonseca (which was completely undamaged in the earthquake). On the way to their house, we heard a huge distant rumbling rushing sound from far away. A few of the missionaries were talking about how it looked and sounded like a plane was flying low but I half jokingly, half serious said, ¨No, guys thats the tsunami¨. We just kept our course to the Fonseca house but a few hours later we found out that I was actually right and that it was the sound of the tsunami down in the Centro of Talcahuano. Anyways, we waited out the rest of the night huddled in the family room of the family Fonseca with the door open because mildly strong aftershocks were still coming like every five minutes and we had no idea when and if the aftershocks would turn into another powerful devastating earthquake.

Finally at like 7:30 am, when it was light enough to see, we made our way back to the apartments. First we checked on some neighbors who are very good friends of ours to see if they were ok and then we made it back up to our apartment. When we walked in, the place was just a complete disaster. All the food and dishes and church and missionary materials were scattered all over the floor. The fridge was on the other side of the kitchen with its contents spilled onto the floor and the sofa and the sofa chairs were on the other side of the living room. Then upstairs in our rooms, it was a complete disaster as well, with all of our clothes and study materials and whatever else just spilled all over the floor. We did some basic clearing for like five minutes, then we all filmed the apartment and then we changed and headed out to see what we could do to help. Plus, we were worried about staying up in our apartment for too long.

When we left we went around checking up on members, investigators, and just going around seeing what we could do to help and seeing what really happened to our sector in the daylight. We weren't able to get ahold of any investigators but we did talk to a few members who were fine. At this point we again made the journey to the chapel and were just marveling at the destruction and taking pictures along the way. Although, I didn't have the heart to take some pictures because as we passed a lot of houses that were destroyed, the family was standing outside crying and holding each other, or looking at the house and crying or just sitting on the curb next to their destroyed house with a tired, sad, battered look of defeat on their faces. Like one time I lifted my camera to take a picture and the owner of the house, who was standing outside looking helpless, just gave me and my camera the saddest most pitiful look, so I just couldn't take the picture. It broke my heart to see people like that and it also left me feeling helpless because there were just too many of them and too much to do before we could start being of any real help to people.

So anyways, we finally made it to the capilla and most of the walls outside it fell down but the chapel itself on the outside was all right. Inside was a different story. In almost all the rooms, including the salon sacramental (don’t remember what its called in English) and the cultural hall all the ceiling squares and metal framing that held them together just came crumbling down. In every room it looked like there were just big metal spider webs hanging from the ceiling. So we spent a couple of hours cleaning up the rubble and looking for the emergency water supply that everyone said the church had. After that we found out that all the members were setting up tents on a high hill to sleep in because it said on the radio that another big earthquake and a tsunami were going to come at 8 o’clock at night. So we hurried back to the apartment, packed

up small bags with some food, extra clothes, some pictures of the fam, some of my favorite letters I´ve gotten and then we headed for the hills. It was really weird packing up a small bag and thinking that I might never see my other stuff again. But anyways we set up camp and while we were setting up, the missionaries from San Vicente (which is a port right on the ocean) showed up and so we had 8 missionaries sleeping just on the ground in a tent. It was pretty hard to get to sleep because we were waiting for another earthquake/tsunami to come any second but afterwhat seemed like forever I finally got to sleep.

At like six in the morning we were all woken up to the sound of shouting and gunfire down below in the center and that went on sporadically for about an hour or so. We guessed that it was the military shooting thieves down below and later on we found out that we were right. Anyways, that started off day two and in all honesty, day two didn't go so well. We didn't really know what we should do and we didn't fully understand the magnitude of the situation that we were in or what was going on. We started off by going to the house of the familia Fonseca and since we were all dead tired from two nights of little to no sleep we all just kind of crashed in the living room for an hour. Afterwards we ate breakfast and found some coke to drink in the Fonseca's house and that was very needed because we hadn't eaten or drunken really anything since before the earthquake. After that, our time was mostly spent trying to find somewhere to get water and food. We had a little bit of food but we knew it wasn't going to last and even though we had our water filter bottles we had absolutely no water. And meanwhile, all the day, hordes of refugees were streaming into the hills from down below. People soaked and covered in grey mud trudging slowly up the main streets that lead up into the hills. People with backpacks and sleeping bags dragging a few mud covered belongings behind them on wooden broken pieces of houses and boats and some string. And it seemed like the groups of people coming in never ended. It was like all of Talcahuano turned into vagabonds, gypsies and refugees over night. Even the ones from the hills, because no one were living in their houses; the hills just turned into tent towns. Everybody was still waiting on edge for another tsunami and/or earthquake to come so nobody wanted to be in or near their houses.

Also, not only were there people coming up into the hills, but there were people going down as well, and in a hurry. Trucks and cars, jammed full of people, driving down from the hills and people hitchhiking to get rides there. At first we didn't understand why until the afternoon when they started coming back up. The same trucks returned loaded with food, water, alcohol, and even some with computers and t.v.s. Everyone was raiding the food from the supermarkets and word was that the military was allowing it. So we decided to go down there to see what we could find (without stealing of course). On the walk down, it was really crazy. Mud covered people were still trudging up loaded down with food and goods carrying it in any way possible from shopping carts to rubble that was made into a carrying device. And the whole time it seemed like we were going against the flow. It really felt against my nature or instinct to keep going down and down the hills into the part of the city that was the most dangerous and most destroyed but hey, we needed the food. And as we continued down,the destruction just got worse until finally we made it to the bottom.

I will never forget the things I saw, the feelings I felt, and even the smells I smelled in that little trip into the Centro, ground zero. Just down there, there was a feeling of anxiety and panic in the air that was almost palpable and the heavy and thick coastal fog that came in that day really just made the atmosphere that much more foreboding. As we got to some of the main streets, I was just floored and awestruck at the magnitude of the destruction down there and of the animalistic inhuman state that the people were in. The people were especially bad as we passed by the main supermarket, Santa Isable. People were just swarming in and out carrying anything and everything that they could possibly carry. People were even on the roof tops, tossing things down to their friends below. One even tried to steal my comps camera (he was filming all of this). And everyone was covered with mud because the supermarket, Santa Isabel, was below sea level and kind of below the ground so it was just filled with water. Also, it was completely dark because there was no eletricity, so I don't know how people survived trying to take things out in there.

As we moved down from the market into the plaza, the destruction just started getting worse and I was just completely left speechless. 5 story buildings had just crumbled to the ground or were leaning like broken skeletons at unnatural angles. And mud, fish and boats were left on the streets from when the ocean, which was up to your waist in the plaza, left the city. Some of the streets were even guarded by military and were not open for people to go into because the destruction was just too complete, with rubble chest high and parts of buildings on crushed cars. But the scariest part of the whole experience happened when we were a block away from the ocean and checking out some busted and stranded cargo crates from boats. Cars and people just started running like mad and everyone said that the ocean was coming again, that a tsunami was coming fast. At that point adrenaline just took over and we didn't stop running until we had made it a few miles away from the ocean. Once again, in the tops of the hills, we just collapsed on the ground. Later we found out that there was no tsunami and that a big organized group faked it so they could be left alone to take food and supplies for themselves but it was a moment I will never forget. So that was day two and once again, we had to sleep in the tents.

On day three, we once again, woke up to gunfire but this time everyone was freaking out outside. We hurriedly left the tent and everyone was running in every direction gathering pieces, of metal pipe, sticks, or whatever and gathering into groups. When we asked what was going on they said that a huge band of thieves was coming up into the hills to rob and burn the houses and that they were almost to our community. So we picked up some homemade weapons of our own and gathered at the house of the member whose tent we were using to help him defend his house. He was outside with a gun so that made us feel a little better that they wouldn't mess with his house but still it was pretty nerve wracking just waiting. After a while we heard that the people from a hill away fought them off but when this news got out people just got busy preparing for when they came again. Doing things like tying knives to sticks and barricading the streets with rubble. We even had to put white armbands with the name of our community on to distinguish us from the thieves so we could walk around

without somebody attacking us. It was pretty crazy and once again there was a feeling of chaos in the air but also determination because all of the neighbors united to defend their houses. Also at about this time a member, who has a diesel truck, offered his house for us to use as a “home base” and so a couple of hours after the first raid of the thieves we moved all of our stuff from the tent down to the house when once again everybody started freaking out because the band of thieves was coming back. So once again we grabbed our homemade weapons and headed to the house but this time the military was there up in the hills so when the thieves came the military just gunned them down and they went running.

After that point, we had to take turns doing two hour shifts of guard duty every night in the members house for the rest of the week. I remember the night of day 3, my shift was from 3 am to 5 am and it was very creepy just sitting in the front room or on the front porch in the dark just waiting. Luckily we had the members gun to use on guard duty (don't worry, he taught us how to use it) which was a big comfort but at the time it was strange to think that I might actually have to use it. But thank goodness I never had to use it because the raiders never came back up into the hills.

After day 3, the days that we stayed in the members house kind of just all blur together. Everyday Elder Stevens, Elder Kraut, and the member made trips into the now wild jungles of Talcahuano and Concepcion to try to find gas, food, water, cooking oil, and any other supplies we needed to survive. They had some crazy experiences down there but they luckily never came back empty handed. They always had plenty of gas and accumulated enough canned fish to last us months. Not the best tasting stuff but at that time any food was welcome. For us missionaries who didn't go into Talcahuano and Concepcion in the truck, our days were spent waiting hours in line at the fire station with buckets to get water, helping members in need, looking for our bishop who went AWOL with the keys to the water tank at the church and just doing the essential things that needed to be done to survive day to day. On day five, I think it was, we finally were able to track down the bishop and take the key to the tank so from that point on we were able to take water out for us and the members at the church. Our church building is on a hill in plain view of everyone so it was a little complicated to smuggle water out of the church and get it to members without anybody seeing because the last thing we wanted was an angry thirsty mob at the gates of the church.
Fortunately we were sneaky enough and we never got a mob on our hands.

By day six the situation with us 8 missionaries in the house was starting to get pretty complicated due to the rationing of water, food, and other reasons that I am not going to go into in this email. So we decided that we were going to try to hitchhike with our stuff into San Pedro where we knew that the President's house was. Luckily that same day, we were finally able to get a hold of President Swenson, the first time we were able to contact someone outside our group since the earthquake, and he told us that he was going to try to come see us even though he couldn't make any promises because it was very complicated and took about two hours or more to travel through Concepcion and Talcahuano to get to where we were. 

But while we were up taking water out for the members at the church a few hours later we saw the president's red truck pull up to the gates of the church. I am telling you that was one of the most beautiful sights that I've ever seen in my entire life. Hermana Swenson even started crying when she saw us and gave us all a huge hug. After that we told the President about our situation and he said that he was going to take us to the church in San Pedro to stay with like 30 other missionaries there. He then took us to the members house and gave us five minutes to get a backpack with some stuff in it to take with us to San Pedro. We had only five minutes due to the 12pm to 6pm in the afternoon military curfew that was set from Concepcion to Talcahuano. With us 8 missionaries and backpacks in the jeep/truck thing it was the most uncomfortable two hour car ride in my entire life but we didn't even care because we were finally leaving! The lost battalion of Talcahuano was finally saved. It felt like we were on the last helicopter

out of Vietnam.

So even though a lot of stuff has happened since then, that was where survival mode ended. When we got to San Pedro, the chapel had turned into a refugee camp housing like 5 or so refugee families and forty missionaries. The 6 or so adrenaline pumped fight or flight days that we endured were now replaced with safety and lots of down time. With the curfew still enforced, I was bored out of my mind there and a had to sleep on a church pew but at last we had food, water, electricity and were safe. We still did guard duty but we were safe. We were only there at the church in San Pedro for three days. After the area presidency of Chile spoke to us on Sunday, President Swenson gave us the ok to go back to Talcahuano. When we got back, there was electricity back and we could go into Concepcion where a few supermarkets had opened back up to buy food so we were set. It was just a pain without water for another week but the water came back yesterday!!! WAHOOOO!!!! 15 days after the earthquake the water finally came back and so I took my first hot shower in two weeks last night :)

Anyways, last week back in Centinela was good and we had a lot of great experiences serving. We did things like take all the mud and mud covered things out of members houses down below where the tsunami hit. We helped old people carry water up hills from water springs down in the little valleys between the hills. We comforted members whose elderly parents couldn't escape the Tsunami. We did service, talked about the tender mercies of God, and helped out wherever we could. We also got a better look at how much damage was really done. One fishing village called Caleta Tumbes, which is part 

of the sector Talcahuano Centro, and is like a twenty minute drive up the peninsula, was completely wiped out. There are entire streets where all the houses where carried away except like one or two which were damaged beyond repair. Streets where all that was left were the foundations of the houses and the toilet standing. So there is a lot of work to do in Talcahuano.

I had been looking forward to continuing our work in Talcahuano but unfortunately the President changed cambios and now I am being transfered. I'm going to a little tiny pueblo like an hour and a half away from Concepcion, called Monte Aguila. The one thing that's good is that I'm going back to the zone Los Angeles Norte; it's in the same zone as Galvarino, but I am really bummed that i am leaving Talcahuano after so short a time. My comp is leaving too so Centinela is going back to only having two missionaries. I really wanted to continue to serve the people there in Talcahuano with so much work to help them get back on their feet. The Lord has different plans for me. It looks like I'll be going back to normal missionary work tomorrow because apparently Monte Aguila wasn't too affected by the earthquake.

Well, I could really go on for like ten more pages about the experiences I've had and how my life has changed but unfortunately I have to go. But I want you all to know that the Lord really does protect His servants. I have seen more miracles than I can count these past two weeks and I've seen the people here really humble themselves. The Lord is preparing the people of Chile for His temple, and I am very proud to be a part of it. This experience has only strengthened my faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and my resolve to help bring my brethren here in Chile into his fold. I love you all so much and thank you everyone for your love and support and most of all for your prayers, for your prayers were answered :) HARRAH FOR ISRAEL!!!

Con mucho amor, Elder Harper :)

DAD'S NARRATIVE OF RILEY'S 8.8 EARTHQUAKE ORDEAL

Following are some of Riley's earthquake experiences in Talcahuano, Chile that Tom recorded after talking to Riley on Friday. According to our memory of our phone conversation with Riley, the following is accurate; however, we make no promises. We are looking forward to actually being able to read Riley's own account in his own words once we receive them. I am sure they will be more accurate and include more of his thoughts and feelings.

3/7/10

We finally got to talk to Riley yesterday. It was so great to hear his voice and be assured that he is safe. Riley is currently in the town of San Pedro staying in a chapel there with approximately 40 missionaries and a handful of refugee families. He sounded healthy and happy and expressed many times over his thankfulness for Heavenly Father’s protective hand.

As soon as Riley has access to the internet he promised to write us a detailed letter explaining what he experienced from the moment the 8.8 earthquake hit at around 3:45 am on Saturday, February 27th until 5 days later, Thursday, March 4th, when they were rescued by the the mission president and his wife and taken to safety in San Pedro.

We asked him about what it was like going through one of the largest earthquakes ever recorded. He said that he was awakened by jolting of the quake and sat up on his bed as things in the room were crashing down around him. He could see the floor moving up and down and the walls waving in and out. He kept waiting for it to end but it just kept going, lasting as long as two minutes while increasing in power. He did not hear anyone in his apartment of 4 missionaries yell out during the quake, nor did he. “I think we were all just too afraid or in shock to even speak while the quake was going on.” Riley told us that what was going through his mind was that he was sure the building would collapse and that their fourth floor apartment would come crashing down. He pictured in his mind that they would be buried in rubble. He expressed that he feared for his life and during the height of the shaking, his worst fears seemed inevitable. He said of the initial 8.8 quake that it was the longest most horrifying 2 minutes of his life.

After the apartment stopped shaking one of the Elders in the other room yelled out, asking if everyone was OK? They all replied yes and agreed that they had to get out of the apartment NOW! Riley was wearing PJs and quickly slipped on slippers, grabbed a flashlight and joined his companions as they exited the building.

They spent the rest of that first night out on the streets with the locals from their apartment complex and nearby neighborhood. With large after shocks going off every few minutes it just wasn’t safe to go back inside. Riley told us that, “people were screaming and yelling, some were throwing up, and there was mass hysteria everywhere.”

At first light they went to check on members living nearby. All power was out and phone lines were down. Even cell phone service was disrupted but they were miraculously able to reach the other missionaries in their sector by cell phone, before they lost power, and arranged to meet in a safe place other than the location that their emergency plan had previously called for. The emergency plan location they decided was not in as safe a place because of the threat of a major tsunami, so higher ground seemed to be the better call.

Riley told us that as terrifying as going through an 8.8 earthquake was, that the 48 hours to follow is where he feared for his life the most. He talked about the civil unrest that they experienced, the blatant crime that they witnessed on property and humanity.

Night two and three after the quake, Riley, along with 7 other missionaries, slept away from any building structures in the nearby hills. They borrowed tents from some of the members and stayed amongst other locals and members in makeshift tent cities. He told us how they armed themselves with homemade weapons and clubs made from sticks and pieces of steel pipe, whatever they could find. Lawlessness was rampant and getting worse by the hour. There were gangs of criminals forming, organizing and systematically working their way through neighborhoods, looting and stealing anything they could find. The missionaries, along with many of the neighborhood locals, used pieces of broken fencing, debris from damaged buildings, and anything they could find to barricade off sections of the neighborhood to keep the bandits out. These bands of thieves were different from many of the desperate people that were looting grocery stores in desperation for food to feed their families. These gangs were stealing electronics and high end goods. They would threaten the lives of anyone that got in their way. There were reports of gangs working their way through neighborhoods, kicking in doors and stealing peoples things.

Aftershock quakes were constant and continued to rock the peninsula of Talcahuano and surrounding areas. Hundreds of quakes daily, many still above 6.0, leaving everyone frightened and on edge. Although Talcahuano reported some of the worst damage done by the tsunami that shortly followed the 8.8 quake, it could have been far worse and for the first few days most of the locals still feared that a much bigger tsunami would strike.

Riley told us about going down into the “Centro” or center of the town to look for food and supplies to help members and people in need. He saw people breaking into stores and stealing everything on the shelves. He saw people light and burn down stores after nothing else could be found. A man approached Riley and his companion on the street and tried to steal the camera out of his companion’s hands. After a short confrontation, they fled from the bandit.

One of the more frightening moments was when they were down along the beach front looking at all the destruction when the tsunami warnings started going off. He said people started running in total hysteria screaming that the water was coming, the tsunami was coming. Riley and his companions ran for their lives. He said that pictures in his mind were of some of the devastating tsunamis that he remembered seeing on the news in recent years.

The eight missionaries from the sector, Riley included, stayed the last two nights at a member’s home up in the hills. With the threat of gangs of thieves closing in on them, all eight missionaries took turns with an around-the-clock guard duty. The member had a shot gun and an old military helmet. Riley told us that they would all take a shift, through the night, standing guard with the gun and wearing the helmet. He said they wore a piece of cloth around their arm, as did everyone in that neighborhood, so as to be identified as belonging in that neighborhood. This enabled them to move in and out of the area without suspicion.

This member had a diesel pickup truck. Gas was impossible to find but diesel was more accessible. They were able to go on some food finding runs further out of the city. On one particular run they were able to load up on canned fish from a fish cannery the member knew of. They were able to get enough to sustain many members for several days.

Riley said that on the third day they started to see improvements in the control of the lawless. The military moved in to establish order and were shooting anyone that was committing crimes and not yielding to their warnings. Riley said they were shooting first and asking questions later. He said “the military was not messing around.” He was glad to see them take over. Gun shots were a frequent sound throughout the day and night.

On Thursday, March 4th, the eight missionaries had a meeting and decided that they needed to leave Talcahuano and try to connect with more members of their mission. They decided that they would start walking to Concepcion, to the mission office, and try to hitch hike along the way. As they were packing up some daypacks with a few items that they could carry, President Swensen and his wife pulled up in a pickup truck. Riley said that when Sister Swenson saw the eight missionaries and the condition that they were in, she cried and gave them all a big hug. All eight crammed into the truck with what little they could carry and headed out to a chapel in San Pedro where now 40 missionaries and a handful of refugee families are staying.

Riley said that when he saw the President and his wife that he felt that they had been rescued. Riley reports that they have plenty of food and water at the chapel and that they feel completely safe. With a curfew that only allows them to be out from 12 noon to 6p.m. Riley says that their biggest battle now is boredom. They are able to go out during that time and perform as much service as they can, helping members in that area clean up, off loading supply trucks, restocking grocery stores and any other humanitarian aid that they can offer. Riley said he is anxious to go back to his area and get back to work in any capacity that they are needed. They still have to keep a 24 hour watch on the building they are staying in but he made no mention of having to be armed for that duty.

Some of the many miracles that Riley has shared with us are that just a few months before the quake they had a mission meeting on emergency preparedness and President Swenson outlined an emergency plan which included where missionaries should meet up in the event of an emergency. He instructed them specifically as to what to do in the event of an earthquake. Riley also said that they got an unusual Christmas gift sent to all the missionaries in his mission from the first presidency of the church. They all received water bottles with a built in water filtration system and water filtering tablets. He said that when they got them he wasn’t sure why they got them saying that, “the water in Chile is fine and totally safe.” Since the earthquake and the total disruption of running water, water has been scarce. Riley said the water bottles are a life saver and all the missionaries are using them.

It is not very common for the first presidency to purchase a personal item like that for so many missionaries. What a blessing it is to have inspired leaders.

We are so thankful for all the love and concern shown to us over this past week. We have received many calls and emails from family and friends expressing their love and concern for Riley. We know that this experience he has gone through will change him forever and we can see that he has grown and will continue to grow because of it. The scope of his mission in Chile has changed now and he will be serving in new ways.

Riley expressed how thankful he was for being a missionary. He loves the people of Chile and feels it a blessing to serve them. His testimony has grown so much and we are so proud of the man he is becoming.

Tom Harper

Riley’s Dad

THANK YOU ALEX - ALEX TALKS TO RILEY

In Pitrufquen, Riley's first area, he made a good friend named Alex, who is the ward mission leader there. We are friends with Alex on Facebook so he was able to contact us to let us know Riley would be calling him. Riley was able to call Alex tonight using his cell phone. Apparently, Riley's cell is working within Chile, but he is not able to call the US. Here is what Alex reported:

i just talked with Riley!!!!he told me that he is fine, he lived in an 4th floor from an apartment in Talcahuanao, so, he felt very stronger the earthquake, but he is ok, and his apartment too, it wasn't destroyed, but he is living with 8 more missionaries in a member's house in the hill, he don't have light and water, but they are trying to finding it, the another members are helping them a lot, he don't have battery for this reason he couldn't call me before, aa, he told me that they are having their meetings but not in the chapel because it has very damaged, well, he doesn't know very much about Elder Heisen, but his zone leaders told him that Heisen is safe and good too. Well, it was that he told me, we couldn't talk very much because his battery was low, but i told him that you love him and i sent your strength , and he said that he love you very much, and he is very fine, safe, and happy because he is serving to the Lord, he said that, don't care for him, he is fine, and his Mission President will visit them tomorrow.

that is all for now, i'll follow informing you soon

bye family

(note from mom: the main thing that bothers me is Riley not having water, hopefully the mission president will take care of that tomorrow)

TALCAHUANO (where Riley is or was living and serving) AFTRER THE QUAKE AND TSUNAMI

A boat lies marooned on a street in Talcahuano, Chile, Monday, March 1, 2010. An 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck central Chile early Saturday triggering a tsunami that hit coastal communities. (AP Photo/ Natacha Pisarenko)

Tsunami sweeps away entire towns on Chilean coast

By MICHAEL WARREN and ROBERTO CANDIA (AP)

TALCAHUANO, Chile — When the shaking stopped, Marioli Gatica and her extended family huddled in a circle on the floor of their seaside wooden home in this gritty port town, listening to the radio by a lantern's light.

They heard firefighters urging Talcahuano's citizens to stay calm and stay inside. They heard nothing of a tsunami — until it slammed into their house with an unearthly roar about an hour after Saturday's magnitude 8.8 quake.

Gatica's house exploded with water. She and her family were swept below the surface, swirling amid loose ship containers and other massive debris that smashed buildings into oblivion all around them.

"We were sitting there one moment and the next I looked up into the water and saw cables and furniture floating," Gatica said.

She clung to her 11-year-old daughter, Ninoska Elgueta, but the rush of water ripped the girl from her hands. Then the wave retreated as suddenly as it came.

Two of the giant containers crushed Gatica's home. A third landed seaward of where she floated, preventing the retreating tsunami from dragging her and other relatives away.

Soon Ninoska was back in her mother's arms — she had grabbed a tree branch to avoid being swept away and climbed down as soon as the sea receded.

Gatica's son, husband and 76-year-old father were OK as well, as were her sister and her family. The only relative missing was her 76-year-old mother, Nery Valdebenito, Gatica said as she waited in a hundreds-long line outside a school to report her losses.

"I think my mother is trapped beneath" the house, Gatica said.

As she spoke, firefighters with search dogs were examining the ruins of her home blocks away. Minutes later, the group leader drew his finger across his neck: No one alive under the house.

Such horrors abound along the devastated beach communities of Chile's south-central coast, which suffered the double tragedy Saturday of the earthquake and the tsunami it caused. Of the quake's 723 victims, most were in the wine-growing Maule region that includes Talcahuano, now a mud-caked, ravaged town of 180,000 just north of Concepcion.

Close to 80 percent of Talcahuano's residents are homeless, with 10,000 homes uninhabitable and hundreds more destroyed, said Mayor Gaston Saavedra.

"The port is destroyed. The streets, collapsed. City buildings, destroyed," Saavedra said.

MY LETTER TO RILEY

We still have not heard from Riley nor have received any new information. I thought I would post my letter I emailed to him yesterday on his P-day just in case he would be able to read it.

Hi Riley,

What an experience you have been having in Chile?!!!! We first heard about the earthquake from Jenna at 10:40ish pm CA time Friday evening after we came home from Road Show. Our Cable channels are limited so we could not find any information on the tv. We were scouring the internet but since it had just happened the only substantial information we could find was a live stream from a Chilean station. Needless to say, we could not understand hardly anythingof what they were saying and it was still dark in Chile so there was no visible video feed from outside.

We were so worried. We did know that you, in Talcahuano, were pretty much right at the epicenter. What was going through my mind was TSUNAMI AND RILEY LIVES DIRECTLY ON A PENINSULA RIGHT AT THE EPICENTER. I was so so so so so worried!!!! I have heard horror stories from past Tsunami victims and I was thinking Talcahuano is going to be taken out by a huge Tsunami wave and Riley will have no warning. I, we, were all so scared. We immediately gathered for

family prayer. It was a tough night but Dad and I did feel somewhat calm. I felt so much better when the threat of Tsunami had passed. I do know that Talcahuano was hit with an 8 foot Tsunami surge and we saw pictures online that showed the damage. Underneath it all, we had a calming feeling and were grateful. Still, we were on tremendous edge and anxiety for almost an entire 24 hours until Concepcion South mission finally reported (way after all the other missions did!) that you all were safe and accounted for. We were so happy and relieved to finally hear those words. We and many others were calling into church headquarters every 30 to 60 minutes getting updates.

We received so many texts, emails and phone calls from family and friends who were so concerned about you. MANY PRAYERS WERE SENT TO HEAVEN PLEADING FOR YOUR SAFETY! It was comforting to know how many people love you and our family and how much support we have. Let's just say there were many relieved and happy people when we finally heard the news we were waiting for. "All the missionaries from Concepcion South are safe and accounted for." We got the message while our phones were on silent because we were in Road Show performances. Grandma Joycie, Aunt Katie and President Zundel all left those messages for us and then we called Church Head Quarters immediately to confirm. So, at the beginning of Road Show, they announced that we had still not heard that you were safe and prayed in your behalf and mid through Road Show they were happily able to announce that you were accounted for and safe. Derek made those announcements. That must have been a huge miraculous undertaking in itself considering no power, phone lines down, roads and bridges destroyed, huge aftershocks etc... etc..... etc.... Your mission president and Heavenly Father sure do love you. You are well taken care of and that is SO COMFORTING AND REASSURING to me, as your mother.

We so look forward to actually hearing from you but know it might be a little while until you are able to do so because of power issues, etc... The news has been reporting how amazing and prepared Chile has been. Chileans are no strangers to earthquakes and were extremely well prepared with much expertise, experience, technology, etc... We look forward to hearing YOUR actual EARTHQUAKE experience and story, Elder Riley Harper's story.You were chosen to come to Chile at this time as a missionary of the Lord and you are having and will continue to have some rich and amazing unique experiences. I am sure your mission now, at least for awhile, will include gloves and a shovel. What amazing missionary opportunities are coming your way!!!

We are so blessed and grateful for your safety, for all of our missionaries' safety! Our prayers have been answered. Our family is holding a special fast today,Sunday, in behalf of you, the missionaries and the people of Chile. Baylor was fasting for you all day yesterday up until Road Show, when I finally made him eat.Can't wait to hear from you. Be careful and safe. Continue serving the people of Chile. I know you love them.You are so loved!! I love you Riley. Take Care, Go forth and serve and Be Strong!

LOVE, Tu Mama (and very happy, thrilled and blessed to be so)

RILEY IS SAFE!

Hi everybody,

Riley and all the missionaries are safe!!!   Collective Sigh of Relief.

They have no power or water and the missionaries are gathering together in safe apartments.  As soon as they have the capability to do so, they will be able to send home an email.  I will post it as soon as we get it.

Thanks again for all of your love, concern and support.

Michelle and Tom

email from Michelle regarding Riley and the earthquake in Chile

I thought I would send out a quick email out since we have been receiving many calls asking about Riley.

Unfortunately, the phones are down and the church has not been able to communicate with Riley's mission, Concepcion South.  We are relieved that the Tsunami threat for Chile is over now since he is actually living at the epicenter on a peninsula, Talcahuano.

Thanks for everybody's love and concern and I will send out an update as soon as we hear anything.  Needless to say we are very worried but have also felt a sense of peace that he is ok.

Michelle


to add to Michelle's words...
Let's be mindful of Riley, the Harper family and all those affected by the earthquake and remember all in our prayers. 

I KNOW I SAY THIS LIKE EVERY WEEK BUT MAN, I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!

HOLA HOLA!!!

Well Monday has come once again. Time really does fly here on the mission and it just keeps gaining speed which is scary. Another cambio is coming to a close, just one week left and we will know what the cambios are on Saturday. And I´ve been in Chile for almost six months now! Which means almost 8 months in the mission. I can´t even believe it, it feels like I was entering the MTC yesterday… Well that's enough of that now, I´ll tell you about my week. Once again it was a bitter-sweet week but this time mostly sweet, haha its never boring here in Chile.

On Tuesday, Wednesday, and half of Thursday it rained, which was kind of a bummer because when it's raining in the middle of summer people just don't come outside or open their doors to us. And all of our citas fell through both Tuesday and Wednesday so it was hard to work effectively. If it was just for the rain it wouldn't have been so hard been I also came down with strep throat so I wasn't really able to eat or talk very much for a while either. But it's not raining anymore now and the strep is improving so No worries :).

And it was ok because we had the baptism of the Margarita on Saturday! Yay! But because her schedule is complicated it had to be at 10 in the morning so besides us four missionaries, there were only six other members of the ward there. And none of her children family showed up, so that was a little hard for her even though she told us she was not surprised that they didn't show. Even though not many people showed, her best friend that introduced her to us and is a strong member of the church came and that seemed like it was enough for Margarita. So it was a small and short service but it went well. I was a little worried because she weighs like about 300 pounds (not even kidding) and my 5 foot 5 comp baptized her but it went fine and she didn't drown in the font because he was able to lift her back up haha.

So I was happy and content about the baptism but a little frustrated as well on Saturday night about the lack of support for the baptism, but mostly about how all of our best investigators were dying and it looked like we weren´t going to be able to bring anyone to church on Sunday. But we had a cita with a contact we had made last week at like 8 oclock so we went to that but weren't really that hopefully about it. The contact had been with a Mom who seemed slightly interested in the gospel but she told us her daughter might be more interested in hearing us so we set the cita (appointment) to meet with her and her daughter.

So when we got to the cita Saturday night, the daughter answered the door and told us that her mom was busy but that we could talk to her. So we gave her a little 5 minute run down of the restoration right there on the door step and she liked it and asked us if she could go to church with us because she always passes it in the street and has always wanted to go inside but was to embarrased to do so. At this point my jaw dropped because no one ever asks us if they can come to church with us. So we were pretty stoked, but when we got to the house Sunday morning to pick her up, we heard her arguing with her dad inside which made us worry. But like 10 minutes later she stormed out of the house and said let's go so we went. She was crying and it took a while to calm her down but I was very impressed that she wanted to go bad enough despite the disapproval of her father.

Church went well even though I was way nervous because I had to give a talk (my first talk in sacrament meeting in Chile) but it went well and the spirit helped me with what I needed to say. After church, when we were walking Wendy (the investigator) back to her house, she told us that she wanted to get baptized and to not worry about her Dad because their parents are divorced and her dad was just visiting from Santiago for the weekend. So we set a baptismal date for the 13th of March and we are going to her house to teach her more tomorrow.

It's moments like those that make you feel very small and cause you to really marvel at the perfection of the plan and power of God. Because we didn't really do anything, she was ready when we knocked on her door. Things like that make you feel really humble and even unworthy. Because after all of our work for the week, on Saturday night we were left without any progressing or new investigators. But the lord truly does lead us to those who are prepared. You just got to have faith and patience. It's really hard to maintain faith and to have patience, it's much easier said then done but I´m working on it and the Lord is helping me in what I lack. Haha I know I say this like every week but man I love being a missionary! Well I've got to go, but I love you guys and keep looking for those missionay moments back at home. You never know who is ready to hear the gospel.

Con amor, Élder Harper :)

p.s. good luck Dad and Baylor with Lacrosse this season!

And thank you very very much for the package. You guys are really too much it felt like Christmas all over again. So thanks very much for the package the house and the other missionaries in the house say thanks for the candy as well haha. Chao!

WHEN YOU'RE TRYING AND DOING WHAT YOU CAN AND YOU STILL CAN'T MAKE IT, THE LORD SURPRISES YOU AND MAKES UP FOR THE REST.

HELLO EVERYBODY!!!!

Well it sounds like everything is going good way up there in the states. Things are going well here although the last week was... hectic. Very hectic. Well anyways the end of the week was a little hectic but the beginning was just pretty normal. Nothing too exciting happening. Wednesday were entrevistas, which went well. Actually, there isn't really anything interesting to report from entrevistas. President didn't say anything about whether I´d move up or not. He just told me how I was feeling about my progress as a missionary. And about moving up, he just said that we will see. I´m really fine with whatever happens at this point. Another cambio as comp menor or getting moved up, either one works for me. I´m just here doing my work and I´ll let the president and the assistants worry about my cambio.

Speaking of the assistants, they kind of messed up big time last week. On Friday I got a call from the office asking what our address was because they are updating all of the records and while I was on the phone with the office I thought that I´d ask about my passport and visa and about some nice handmade 60 custom leather scripture case holders that I got because I was supposed to get this stuff a while ago. When they went to go look for them they realized that like 5 scripture cases and 5 visas and passports were stolen out of the assistants truck because it looks like they had forgotten to lock it. The poor hermana in charge of all the papers for foreign missionaries about had a heart attack. We found out later that those whose passports and visas were stolen were going to have to make a trip up to Santiago to take care of a bunch of paper work and fix the big mess. But luckily a day later a missionary in a different part of Talcahuano called the mission office telling them that he had all the passports and visas except one. It turns out that a policeman just stopped him on the street and asked if the passports belonged to him or any of his friends because he had found them just tossed away laying in the street. So I have my papers and I don't have to go to Santiago! Yay! Unfortunately, my leather cases are still missing but that's life. Things of the world can be replaced.

Other than that fiasco, it was a pretty sleepy week. We haven't found any new people to teach in quite awhile so we have just been trying new methods of finding people. Looking through the reports of old investigators in the area book who never got baptized, visiting innactives. Stuff like that coupled with contacts of course. It hasn't resulted yet but we will see. We just gotta work harder and have faith and patience.

When Sunday came around it was a very bitter sweet day. Unfortunately, mostly bitter but there was definitely a lot of sweet. All of our best investigators didn't show up. We went to this one house of this family that we´ve been teaching, who we thought for sure were going to come, to pick them up. The Dad wants to get baptized but isn't married yet and the kid really wants to get baptized. The 9 year old kid reads the Book of Mormon and always listens intently when we teach. Then we always play Uno or Jenga with him after the lessons. They have flaked on us every week but this week the Dad promised his son that he would take him to church and he promised us as well. When we went to get them Sunday morning the grandpa told us that the Dad went out last night upset and angry and still hadn't come back. It looks like he went out and got drunk. And the kid was asleep and the grandpa wouldn't wake him up because he said it was the Dad's responsibility to bring him. It totally broke my heart that this kid wants to progress and get baptized but his Dad, who's a little messed up, is keeping him from receiving the gospel. So I was way bummed but was cheered up a little to find an investigator already there that wasn't really progressing at all. And in church she told us that she decided that she wants to get baptized. So we have a baptism for this Saturday! I guess when you're trying and doing what you can and you still can't make it, the Lord surprises you and makes up for the rest. :). So I´m about out of time this week but I´ll let you know how Margarita´s baptism goes next week. I love you all and remember... Haz lo Justo! Chao!


Elder Harper :)

THE LORD WILL BRING THOSE HE HAS PREPARED TO US IN HIS TIME, NOT OURS

Hello everybody!

That's weird that you guys got the email so late last week, wonder what happened? Well it sounds like your guys´s week was pretty good. Except for Bay and Dad's Super Bowl Sunday jajaja. I didn't even realize that it was Super Bowl Sunday yesterday until I read the email. Nobody cares here except some of the gringo missionaries. Here everybody is waiting with anticipation for the world cup that's coming up in June. Well as far as my week went it started out alright but didn't end up so well. We are working hard but it looks like we aren't working hard enough because none of our investigators showed up on Sunday. A few of them had valid excuses but with the others I don't know what's up with them. I guess we will find out tomorrow. I thought that we had found some good new investigators last week. We will have to see what's up tomorrow. I think we just have to be more cara de palo (stern faced? Im not sure, ask brother baker) with them.

I think we need to try some new methods of finding people and immunizar (don't know what that means, ask bro baker) our investigators better. But in the end if we are giving our all, I can't blame ourselves too much, because in the end it's their choice. They have to decide whether or not they have the courage and faith to do what it takes to accept the gospel of Jesus Christ, obtain an eternal family and the keys to enter the kingdom of God. It's just so plain, simple, and clear to me that I don't understand how anyone could not accept the simple truth. I just need to work harder, because you can always work harder and have patience. Because the Lord will bring those he has prepared to us in his time, not ours.

This coming Wednesday we have entrevistas and I imagine I´ll find out there whether or not I´m going to move up to compañero mayor. I dont feel ready but I just need to have more confidence and faith in myself and in the Lord. I know I can do it but I´m just too comfortable being comp menor haha, but I know that I could grow a lot if I´m moved up this next cambio. I guess we will just have to wait and see.

Things are going pretty well with my companion, he's very stubborn and sarcastic but despite that we are getting along haha. But there are some weird things about him and things that he does and has done that I´m going to have to talk to him about today or tomorrow but it's nothing big. But even though it's not huge, if we are not obedient, we are not going to see as much success as we could have. I know I´m not perfect but there are still some things I'm going to have to talk to him about that we are going to have to change.

Let's see... some interesting things that happened this week were that it rained just out of the blue on Saturday. It caught us completely off gaurd because it's the middle of summer. So we got soaked, but hey that's life. Oh, and today was a lot of fun. We went on like a 1 or 2 mile hike through the forrest to get to the beach where we hung out with the whole zone for the day. We played ultimate frisby and soccer. It just felt great being on the beach even though we couldn't go in the water.

Well even though the last week wasn't great, I'm done feeling bad about it and I'm ready to start this next week with new energy and a thirst to baptize :). We´ve got half of the cambio left and I´m going to make it as good as I can because it very well be my last three weeks until I´m behind the wheel in the sector. Les quiero mucho y siempre acuerden, HAZ LO JUSTO!!!! A.k.a. Do the righteous :) CHAO!

con cariño, Élder Harper :)

I'M A SOLDIER ON THE FRONT LINES IN THE FORCES OF OUR GOD AND KING AND I AM PROUD TO SERVE

Hey Hey Hey! How's it goin everybody!?

Well, this last week in Talcahuano was alright. Wasn´t my best week ever but it was alright. It was very busy because we had the conference of the North Zones on Tuesday with Presidente and then on Wednesday we had our weekly zone/district conference and then on Thursday weekly planning in the morning and then Friday morning I had to go to the mission office in Concepción to deliver my passport because my visa is finally ready. In short, we didn't have nearly as much time to work this week as usual. We had one good day where we found a ton of people that are good but unfortunately only one of them showed up to church on Sunday :( But we have appointments with the ones that didn't show up tomorrow, so we will see how it goes there and we are going to work on some strategies to help them to go to church haha. They all say they want to get baptized and tell us that they´ll be there Sunday morning but they are either too lazy to get up or they are just stringing us along. So we will see what's up with all of them tomorrow.

Anyways, as far as P-days go, there is a lot to do here in Talcahuano. Today we went to the mall of Concepción (which is pretty dang big and actually in Talcahuano) and we ate some good food and did some bowling with a bunch of other missionaries. It was a lot of fun but I´m really not good at bowling. Don't worry I took video :) As far as the house situation, it's fun to have six missionaries in the house but the apartment is absolutely tiny and it's an absolute mess. We also have to do our own laundry in this house (we have a washing machine but no dryer) so there are always clothes hanging all over the place drying and food everywhere because we only have like 2 tiny cupboards. So even though it's been fun and all, it's time for them to go and it looks like 2 of them are moving on Wednesday. So in a couple of days it will go to being four in the house, which will be more comfortable haha.

Well as I´m gaining more knowledge in the scriptures and getting better at understanding and speaking spanish, the more my testimony grows that it is really the spirit that does the converting. My companion knows a lot of scripture and I´m learning so we can basically overwhelm anybody with scripture and help the Evangelicos, testigos, catolicos, adventistas and whatever other religion that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the only church on the earth that has the full gospel of Jesus Christ as found in the scriptures. But if their heart is not open and the spirit isn't there, then all the facts, the logic and the scripture mean nothing. Eyes and hearts can only be opened to the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ through testimony, faith and the spirit. Scripture only works if they actually have a desire to learn and discover the truth and the spirit is there. So we are trying to work harder to find those people whose hearts and minds are open, the people that really want to learn and who have been prepared by the Lord. Luckily, as ordained representatives of the Lord Jesus Christ we can be blessed with the gift of discernment. So right now I´m focusing on better obtaining and using that gift.

Well that's pretty much all I´ve got for you guys this week. Before I go I just want everyone to know that I love my God and His son Jesus Christ. I have an imperfect but strong testimony that La Iglesia de Jesucristo de Los Santos de Los Últimos Dias is the only true church of God that has all the keys and authority to perform saving ordinances and seal families together forever. I know that we can only be saved through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. We can only fully use the atonement of Jesus Christ through faith, repentance, baptism by immersion by the proper authority for the remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Ghost, which is bestowed also through the proper authority. With these blessings we can endure to the end. And that's why I am here. To teach people how they can use the Atonement of Jesus Christ to start on the road to salvation and eternal life. I´m a soldier on the front lines in the forces of our God and King and I am proud to serve.

Con amor, Élder Harper :)

p.s. for the last request i might have already said it but Another pair of black dickies that have that pocket on the side of the leg :)

p.s.p.s. I already sent an email but thank you very much Uncle Lary and Aunt Erika for the care package! I loved it, especially the cards from the kids haha. Thank you very much. And also thank you Tanners and Hansen´s for your packages. They were greatly appreciated and thoroughly enjoyed :)