August 31, 2009
All is grrreat here in Bogotá. I don’t have as much to time to write today but I will try to get down the important stuff from the week. We started off the first few days in Suba (the very north part of Bogotá) working with the missionaries there. It was awesome and we worked really hard so I think the Elders there are a little more excited about the work which is the goal and we had some great lessons so all went very well.
In other news, this transfer Elder Amador (mission secretary) (and my trainer) is going to be transferred and since his job is really complicated it was decided to bring his replacement in 3 weeks early. My comp and I live with the secretaries (Amador and Zari) and we have a pretty good time. But anyway President chose Elder Smith (my comp from the MTC) to replace him, so now it’s the 5 of us in the house for awhile. It should be pretty cool to live with Elder Smith again because we got to be good friends and we have a good time together (but being reverent when necessary).
Also this week in our area was awwwweeesome. We found a new family named the family Diaz who is really interested and have loved our message so far. It is a single mom (husband left them) who is the head chef at a restaurant, her 2 daughters, her son and his friend who they have basically adopted because of the lack of support from his family. Anyway they went to church and loved it and got along great with the members so we have high hopes for them. They really were a great example that the Lord guides us to his elect. We were walking down the mountain from another lesson and to the right there was an opening in the houses that led to another door kind of hidden. Elder Zari looked over as we passed and said “let’s knock on that door" completely randomly so I thought, " ok why not?" They received us very kindly and listened to us and when we went back the next time they all said they really felt something special when they read and prayed about the Book of Mormon. We have other great investigators so we are very excited about the possibilities of this month. They are others I could mention but in total we had 11 PEOPLE attend church with us Sunday and attendance really is a huge key in the progression of investigators so we are pumped.
In May just when I got here we had a baptism of an older Man named Edgar. He is basically a genius and has degrees in Law, teaching, tourism, publishing, history etc... he has like 20 diplomas. So today he invited us to go with him all over the historic part of downtown Bogotá and the national government area etc. It was awesome and absolutely amazing how much he knew about the history and just random info about Bogotá. We saw Simon Bolivar’s house, who was the leader in liberating Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia from the Spanish and he showed us the oldest part of the city with tiny little streets and the ancient Spanish buildings etc. He also showed us the historic places were Bolivar and his wife hid when a group tried to kill him and where General Santander lived and told us all about their stories etc. He then showed us the Presidential House (their white house) and capital building and where the senator’s buildings are and museums of the history of the currency with all the old money and another museum of Colombian Art. We also saw "Plaza Bolivar" which is like the center of the whole Country. They always have something important going on there because it’s a big Plaza between the "4 powers of the country" The buildings of the Executive branch of the gov, the Judicial and Legislative and of course a huge catholic cathedral. The history of this country is filled with all the bad things the Catholic Church has done to the people and all the power they have had. But it was really cool to learn so much about this country and see the historic Spanish style buildings and all the places of interest here.
This week we have planned to work with another zone in Bogotá and we will also have the Zone Leaders council and continue working with the great people we have in our area so I am very excited.
Well about out of time but thanks for everything, you’re in my prayers and I will talk to ya next week! Elder B
Monday, August 31, 2009
Monday, August 24, 2009
Incredible First Year
August 24, 2009
Hola familia,
It’s been quite a week; actually it’s been quite a year. This week was amazing. We had the mission tour with Elder Nash so we had 4 special zone conferences over 4 days, traveling the whole mission and getting to hear a Seventy and the President of the Area. We had conferences every day from Monday to Thursday (in this order) Bucaramanga, Bogotá, Duitama and another in Bogotá. Elder Gagliardi and I went to organize things for each conference before Elder Nash and the Hackings got there. We rotated conducting the special meetings. I really know that the leaders we have in the Church are called of God and getting to see Elder Nash on a personal level was a big testimony of that.
Apart from having the conferences we got to have an interview with him, talk to him in meetings after the conference and eat 2 dinners with him so I basically got to know him like a friend. Also leaving Bucaramanga, both of our flights got cancelled so it was just me, Elder Gagliardi and Elder Nash for about 2 hours talking about our families and the mission and questions about what we could do to improve and hearing experiences etc, it was awesome to say the least. He just has a special spirit and love for the work and the people and I took advantage of the time with lots of questions so I learned a TON. It really is a rare opportunity to have so much time with a general authority and learn so much.
I told him about our family and he said I must have very special parents because special people get the opportunity to have special spirits like BJ. and it almost felt like he knew us. It really was humbling and a huge blessing to have that chance to meet a General Authority on that level and help me realize how much I need to continue to humble myself and improve. So anyway the week was great. We lost a lot of sleep, made some long travels and had a lot of things to organize but it was great.
So my mission is halfway over, I can’t believe it was a year ago I was walking into the MTC without a clue of what would happen, it really doesn’t seem like more than a few months ago. Haha I was surprised to hear about the house sell. I definitely had a lot of memories in that good home but now another young family can enjoy it and mom can build her dream house.
Other random news, Brandon told me James Johnson who I always guarded from Cheyenne, got picked by the Bulls in the first round of the draft. So I will always be able to say a first round NBA draft pick alley oop dunked right over me haha. (But I gave him his share of post moves also).
It’s hard to believe all that has happened in such a fast year. I have had 8 companions and 3 areas and I have grown to love every one of them. Every time I get to go to Bucaramanga or Tierra Linda in Bogotá I just get excited to see the people and places and really do feel a great love for them. With my companions I have been able to help good people to be baptized and join the true church. Some of those conversions have led to family members or friends that have now joined the church. haha but the great thing is that I have learned that Elder Barnard isn’t the one who convinces people or converts them, everything is due to the Lord and he has blessed me to be able to meet these people and be there to watch him change them. I have been able to develop an incredible love for each one of those people. I have more than any other year of my life, learned the importance of charity, humility, diligence etc and I wish I was better in each one of them and that is why we are here. I hope I have improved as a person. Every time I have had a change (getting here from mtc, changing comp, area or position) I have had to try and humble myself and rely on the Lord because it’s always a jump and he really has come through every time. I may have had a few days discouraged, feeling unable or nervous but I can easily say I have loved the first year of my mission and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I’m excited to start the next one and hope I can make it even better than this one.
I love you all. You are always in my prayers, thanks for everything, and I’ll talk to ya next week. Love Elder B
Hola familia,
It’s been quite a week; actually it’s been quite a year. This week was amazing. We had the mission tour with Elder Nash so we had 4 special zone conferences over 4 days, traveling the whole mission and getting to hear a Seventy and the President of the Area. We had conferences every day from Monday to Thursday (in this order) Bucaramanga, Bogotá, Duitama and another in Bogotá. Elder Gagliardi and I went to organize things for each conference before Elder Nash and the Hackings got there. We rotated conducting the special meetings. I really know that the leaders we have in the Church are called of God and getting to see Elder Nash on a personal level was a big testimony of that.
Apart from having the conferences we got to have an interview with him, talk to him in meetings after the conference and eat 2 dinners with him so I basically got to know him like a friend. Also leaving Bucaramanga, both of our flights got cancelled so it was just me, Elder Gagliardi and Elder Nash for about 2 hours talking about our families and the mission and questions about what we could do to improve and hearing experiences etc, it was awesome to say the least. He just has a special spirit and love for the work and the people and I took advantage of the time with lots of questions so I learned a TON. It really is a rare opportunity to have so much time with a general authority and learn so much.
I told him about our family and he said I must have very special parents because special people get the opportunity to have special spirits like BJ. and it almost felt like he knew us. It really was humbling and a huge blessing to have that chance to meet a General Authority on that level and help me realize how much I need to continue to humble myself and improve. So anyway the week was great. We lost a lot of sleep, made some long travels and had a lot of things to organize but it was great.
So my mission is halfway over, I can’t believe it was a year ago I was walking into the MTC without a clue of what would happen, it really doesn’t seem like more than a few months ago. Haha I was surprised to hear about the house sell. I definitely had a lot of memories in that good home but now another young family can enjoy it and mom can build her dream house.
Other random news, Brandon told me James Johnson who I always guarded from Cheyenne, got picked by the Bulls in the first round of the draft. So I will always be able to say a first round NBA draft pick alley oop dunked right over me haha. (But I gave him his share of post moves also).
It’s hard to believe all that has happened in such a fast year. I have had 8 companions and 3 areas and I have grown to love every one of them. Every time I get to go to Bucaramanga or Tierra Linda in Bogotá I just get excited to see the people and places and really do feel a great love for them. With my companions I have been able to help good people to be baptized and join the true church. Some of those conversions have led to family members or friends that have now joined the church. haha but the great thing is that I have learned that Elder Barnard isn’t the one who convinces people or converts them, everything is due to the Lord and he has blessed me to be able to meet these people and be there to watch him change them. I have been able to develop an incredible love for each one of those people. I have more than any other year of my life, learned the importance of charity, humility, diligence etc and I wish I was better in each one of them and that is why we are here. I hope I have improved as a person. Every time I have had a change (getting here from mtc, changing comp, area or position) I have had to try and humble myself and rely on the Lord because it’s always a jump and he really has come through every time. I may have had a few days discouraged, feeling unable or nervous but I can easily say I have loved the first year of my mission and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I’m excited to start the next one and hope I can make it even better than this one.
I love you all. You are always in my prayers, thanks for everything, and I’ll talk to ya next week. Love Elder B
Monday, August 17, 2009
Called the Police
Hola familia,
This week has been intense. As you know we had transfers and lots of them in the mission. Adding to that we received news that Elder Marcus Nash, Area President and from the First Quorum of the 70 is going to take a tour of our mission this week. So we will have had two very very crazy weeks.
Speaking of the week that is now over, it was very busy. Monday night when the new American missionaries got here it was fun to see them get here in a group almost exactly the same as mine and how they reacted etc. to Colombia. We got them shipped off to the different houses they were to stay in for the night and even had one come to our house. Elder Corro was with us until Tuesday so we had his "son" stay the night with us but didn’t tell him the ex assistant was his comp. until it was time for them to go to their new area which was fun.
The next day the 4 sister missionaries got here so we spent the day having a lunch with them and running them around doing paperwork and legal stuff. They all had millions of questions for me about how long it takes to learn Spanish and what the country is like and what the people do etc. It reminded me a ton of when I first got here so I could relate with all of it and tried to help them out. It also helps that my now "official" comp, Elder Gagliardi speaks perfect English so he could also talk to them.
Wednesday we spent most of the day organizing everything with the last meeting and lunch and interviews of the missionaries that were going home. One of them had his family move here to Bogotá so they came and had dinner at the mission home and then just took him with them.
Thursday we spent most the day in the airport. We had to get all the ones going home sent off. While all this was happening we got to prepare for the week we are now in, in which Elder Nash will go on a tour and do 4 zone conferences in the mission. At the same time we prepared and organized the Zone Leader’s Council which was Friday morning so you could say it was a stressful week. Like I predicted lots of getting up early and staying up late but it’s necessary to make sure everything that needs to be done gets done.
Friday after the Zone Leader’s Council, we ran to the airport and barely caught our flight to Bucaramanga. Today was Stake Conference in the Bucaramanga Terrazas stake and Elder Nash spoke. It was awesome today because my first ward (Real de Minas) is in this stake so afterwards a bunch of members from the ward came up all excited to talk to me and see what I was doing there etc. It really is cool how much you grow to love the people you work with and that help you and it was just an awesome feeling to see all of them. I even got to talk to 5 of our converts that were there and it looks like they are faithful in the church which was also great to see.
As far as this week, Elder Nash will be doing 4 big Zone Conferences, one tomorrow here in Bucaramanga, 2 in Bogotá and 1 in Duitama. We have spent the last few days here preparing every last detail for them and getting everything ready. Tomorrow will be the biggest because everyone from Cucuta, Bucaramanga, Barranca and San Gil will travel in (over 60 missionaries) so we have had to make hotel reservations and plan out where everyone will stay etc. Elder Nash has asked the assistants to conduct the meetings so I am going to conduct tomorrow and we will rotate every other one. Also after each conference he wants to have a 40 minute interview with the Zone Leaders and one of the days he is going to have personal interviews with me and my comp which should be very cool.
Ha I really have felt more pressure I guess you could say now being the "old" assistant. Whereas before if I didn’t know about something I could ask Elder Corro, now I’m the one being asked. So it’s been a good opportunity to learn about leadership. There have been plenty of cases where someone has a question that goes up the line until it gets to me and I have had to just make decisions.
For example last night the Zone Leaders we were staying with got a call from the sister missionaries saying that they were in their bed room and they had heard the apartment door open and someone was in their apartment walking around! They asked me what we should do. It was 3:30 A.M. and there really wasn’t time to call President Hacking first. We quickly called public info. on one phone to get the apartment complex’s number to send security. On the other phone we called the cops. They got there quickly and by the time they arrived, whoever was in their apartment had ran away. By the time we could call President Hacking, it was all over. There is stuff that has nothing to do with finding investigators or teaching or baptizing but you’ve got to be ready for as well.
But like I said, this week is going to be another crazy one getting the mission ready for the conferences etc. It is challenging and exciting to have so much to do and I am loving my mission and all the wonderful experiences.
You’re all in my prayers and I am loving what I am doing. It’s hard to believe but the next time I write I will be half way thru with my mission. It’s been quite a year for sure. But thanks for everything, much love and I will talk to ya next week. Bubye, Love Elder B
This week has been intense. As you know we had transfers and lots of them in the mission. Adding to that we received news that Elder Marcus Nash, Area President and from the First Quorum of the 70 is going to take a tour of our mission this week. So we will have had two very very crazy weeks.
Speaking of the week that is now over, it was very busy. Monday night when the new American missionaries got here it was fun to see them get here in a group almost exactly the same as mine and how they reacted etc. to Colombia. We got them shipped off to the different houses they were to stay in for the night and even had one come to our house. Elder Corro was with us until Tuesday so we had his "son" stay the night with us but didn’t tell him the ex assistant was his comp. until it was time for them to go to their new area which was fun.
The next day the 4 sister missionaries got here so we spent the day having a lunch with them and running them around doing paperwork and legal stuff. They all had millions of questions for me about how long it takes to learn Spanish and what the country is like and what the people do etc. It reminded me a ton of when I first got here so I could relate with all of it and tried to help them out. It also helps that my now "official" comp, Elder Gagliardi speaks perfect English so he could also talk to them.
Wednesday we spent most of the day organizing everything with the last meeting and lunch and interviews of the missionaries that were going home. One of them had his family move here to Bogotá so they came and had dinner at the mission home and then just took him with them.
Thursday we spent most the day in the airport. We had to get all the ones going home sent off. While all this was happening we got to prepare for the week we are now in, in which Elder Nash will go on a tour and do 4 zone conferences in the mission. At the same time we prepared and organized the Zone Leader’s Council which was Friday morning so you could say it was a stressful week. Like I predicted lots of getting up early and staying up late but it’s necessary to make sure everything that needs to be done gets done.
Friday after the Zone Leader’s Council, we ran to the airport and barely caught our flight to Bucaramanga. Today was Stake Conference in the Bucaramanga Terrazas stake and Elder Nash spoke. It was awesome today because my first ward (Real de Minas) is in this stake so afterwards a bunch of members from the ward came up all excited to talk to me and see what I was doing there etc. It really is cool how much you grow to love the people you work with and that help you and it was just an awesome feeling to see all of them. I even got to talk to 5 of our converts that were there and it looks like they are faithful in the church which was also great to see.
As far as this week, Elder Nash will be doing 4 big Zone Conferences, one tomorrow here in Bucaramanga, 2 in Bogotá and 1 in Duitama. We have spent the last few days here preparing every last detail for them and getting everything ready. Tomorrow will be the biggest because everyone from Cucuta, Bucaramanga, Barranca and San Gil will travel in (over 60 missionaries) so we have had to make hotel reservations and plan out where everyone will stay etc. Elder Nash has asked the assistants to conduct the meetings so I am going to conduct tomorrow and we will rotate every other one. Also after each conference he wants to have a 40 minute interview with the Zone Leaders and one of the days he is going to have personal interviews with me and my comp which should be very cool.
Ha I really have felt more pressure I guess you could say now being the "old" assistant. Whereas before if I didn’t know about something I could ask Elder Corro, now I’m the one being asked. So it’s been a good opportunity to learn about leadership. There have been plenty of cases where someone has a question that goes up the line until it gets to me and I have had to just make decisions.
For example last night the Zone Leaders we were staying with got a call from the sister missionaries saying that they were in their bed room and they had heard the apartment door open and someone was in their apartment walking around! They asked me what we should do. It was 3:30 A.M. and there really wasn’t time to call President Hacking first. We quickly called public info. on one phone to get the apartment complex’s number to send security. On the other phone we called the cops. They got there quickly and by the time they arrived, whoever was in their apartment had ran away. By the time we could call President Hacking, it was all over. There is stuff that has nothing to do with finding investigators or teaching or baptizing but you’ve got to be ready for as well.
But like I said, this week is going to be another crazy one getting the mission ready for the conferences etc. It is challenging and exciting to have so much to do and I am loving my mission and all the wonderful experiences.
You’re all in my prayers and I am loving what I am doing. It’s hard to believe but the next time I write I will be half way thru with my mission. It’s been quite a year for sure. But thanks for everything, much love and I will talk to ya next week. Bubye, Love Elder B
Monday, August 10, 2009
Tons of Transfers
August 10, 2009
Hola Familia,
It’s been another good old week. Lots and lots of preparations for the transfers that we announced yesterday. They will take place tomorrow.
As far as work in our area everything has been going well. Our investigator Soraira who had her baptism date for the 15th had to leave last minute this Sunday with her mom so she couldn’t go to church so we will have to see what happens this week. We have continued teaching the Pentecostal lady and it has been going well although it might be a long shot. We have had some great lessons teaching them about the plan of salvation which really really interested them. When we first started teaching they were completely opposed to even looking at scriptures that weren’t the Bible but the last lesson was another good one. She now has agreed to read the Book of Mormon and ask God if it is true or not. She told us that before we met them she had a dream that there were three people sitting at her table in black teaching her something important and a few days later two of us arrived so she feels it is something special. We really hope they will give it a chance and ask in faith. Really the goal is to find humble people who aren’t initially closed to our message but it really has been proof that if they give us a chance and we can teach with the spirit, anything is possible.
Like I said this week has been very busy so far with transfers. We had various meetings with President Hacking. He first told us that he had decided who was going to be my new companion. He is an Elder from Bolivia named Elder Gagliardi. He is an excellent Elder and he speaks basically perfect English. He is a great person and I know we will get along great. For the other transfers, President Hacking gave us all his ideas and we gave opinions and suggestions. One thing he wanted to accomplish was to change many Zone Leaders because a lot of them had been in a long, long time. So that he did. It is one of the biggest transfers that the mission has had. Elder Lee and Moen from my group are now Zone Leaders and many other missionaries will have their first opportunity to train or be a leader in some position. All the missionaries that were changed will travel to their new areas tomorrow. Six American Elders, 1 Latin and 4 Sisters will be arriving today and tomorrow. The gringos tonight and the latins tomorrow. Elder Adams that you told me about will be arriving tonight. So this starts maybe the most hectic week the mission has seen.
Transfer week is always especially crazy for the assistants and now that Elder Corro is gone I am left to organize it, so I’m excited. Tonight the American Elders land and we will be there with Pres Hacking to greet them and get them all to the houses they will be in for the night. Elder Corro's "son" will be one of them so he will stay with us tonight, have his welcome lunch and paperwork tomorrow and they will head to their new areas tomorrow afternoon. Tomorrow we receive the new Latins from the MTC here, organize their interviews and welcome lunch etc and make sure they get sent to their areas. Wednesday, the missionaries who are leaving have their interviews and goodbye lunch and Thursday we take them all to the airport for their flights. Friday we will have the Zone Leader’s council here so in the meantime, as we manage all the traveling throughout the mission as well as those leaving and arriving, we also get to organize the 3 hour Zone Leader Council. We will be going to bed late and getting up early every day, lots of organizing and decisions to make and no free time but it’s all good and I love every minute.
It’s hard to believe that a year ago today I gave my "farewell" talk. I can’t believe how fast the time has passed. Its tough to tell when you’re in the mission if you are progressing like you want, but I know I am learning a ton, having amazing experiences and hopefully I am changing and progressing in the way I wish to. I hope everyone is fine at home. Hope all is going well with the Heavens and the new house and all the nieces’ n nephews. The Bates are in my prayers and especially the situation with Ben and the new Baby. Give my love to all my sobrinos!
Thanks again for everything, I know the church is true, Christ lives and answers our prayers. Be of good cheer always. Love Elder B
Hola Familia,
It’s been another good old week. Lots and lots of preparations for the transfers that we announced yesterday. They will take place tomorrow.
As far as work in our area everything has been going well. Our investigator Soraira who had her baptism date for the 15th had to leave last minute this Sunday with her mom so she couldn’t go to church so we will have to see what happens this week. We have continued teaching the Pentecostal lady and it has been going well although it might be a long shot. We have had some great lessons teaching them about the plan of salvation which really really interested them. When we first started teaching they were completely opposed to even looking at scriptures that weren’t the Bible but the last lesson was another good one. She now has agreed to read the Book of Mormon and ask God if it is true or not. She told us that before we met them she had a dream that there were three people sitting at her table in black teaching her something important and a few days later two of us arrived so she feels it is something special. We really hope they will give it a chance and ask in faith. Really the goal is to find humble people who aren’t initially closed to our message but it really has been proof that if they give us a chance and we can teach with the spirit, anything is possible.
Like I said this week has been very busy so far with transfers. We had various meetings with President Hacking. He first told us that he had decided who was going to be my new companion. He is an Elder from Bolivia named Elder Gagliardi. He is an excellent Elder and he speaks basically perfect English. He is a great person and I know we will get along great. For the other transfers, President Hacking gave us all his ideas and we gave opinions and suggestions. One thing he wanted to accomplish was to change many Zone Leaders because a lot of them had been in a long, long time. So that he did. It is one of the biggest transfers that the mission has had. Elder Lee and Moen from my group are now Zone Leaders and many other missionaries will have their first opportunity to train or be a leader in some position. All the missionaries that were changed will travel to their new areas tomorrow. Six American Elders, 1 Latin and 4 Sisters will be arriving today and tomorrow. The gringos tonight and the latins tomorrow. Elder Adams that you told me about will be arriving tonight. So this starts maybe the most hectic week the mission has seen.
Transfer week is always especially crazy for the assistants and now that Elder Corro is gone I am left to organize it, so I’m excited. Tonight the American Elders land and we will be there with Pres Hacking to greet them and get them all to the houses they will be in for the night. Elder Corro's "son" will be one of them so he will stay with us tonight, have his welcome lunch and paperwork tomorrow and they will head to their new areas tomorrow afternoon. Tomorrow we receive the new Latins from the MTC here, organize their interviews and welcome lunch etc and make sure they get sent to their areas. Wednesday, the missionaries who are leaving have their interviews and goodbye lunch and Thursday we take them all to the airport for their flights. Friday we will have the Zone Leader’s council here so in the meantime, as we manage all the traveling throughout the mission as well as those leaving and arriving, we also get to organize the 3 hour Zone Leader Council. We will be going to bed late and getting up early every day, lots of organizing and decisions to make and no free time but it’s all good and I love every minute.
It’s hard to believe that a year ago today I gave my "farewell" talk. I can’t believe how fast the time has passed. Its tough to tell when you’re in the mission if you are progressing like you want, but I know I am learning a ton, having amazing experiences and hopefully I am changing and progressing in the way I wish to. I hope everyone is fine at home. Hope all is going well with the Heavens and the new house and all the nieces’ n nephews. The Bates are in my prayers and especially the situation with Ben and the new Baby. Give my love to all my sobrinos!
Thanks again for everything, I know the church is true, Christ lives and answers our prayers. Be of good cheer always. Love Elder B
Monday, August 03, 2009
Another Great Week
Angie and Ben Bates FamilyAugust 3, 2009
Hola Familia,
This week has been exelente. We started off with a few days full of office work but we spent Thursday and Friday in interchanges with some of the missionaries in Bogotá and a little town about an hour outside called "Facatativa." Yes it’s very easy to say. But we worked hard and had good lessons, found new people and it was a good experience.
Elder Corro and I fasted for Ben this week. (our son in law who has just been diagnosed with cancer – he starts chemotherapy in 2 weeks that will continue about 6 months.) All we really can do is fast and pray, "Be of good cheer." I feel that everything will turn out fine. I also feel very calm about his situation. My prayers will be with Ben and Angie and the kids and the soon to be new baby. (This is a very frightening situation for our whole family (my eyes are sore from crying) but after fasting and many prayers, we all feel calm and have a certain peace with us. They have four little children and a new baby due Oct 1 so we will really need to rely on faith to get through these next few really stressful months. We are so grateful for the gospel and the peace that it brings as well as excellent doctors and modern chemotherapy)
Saturday we had a baptism in our area. She is a woman named Sandra. Her husband was born into the church but has been inactive most of his life. Things started going rough for the family so she decided it was time to turn to God. We started visiting her a while ago and she loved the message of the Restoration and the Plan of Salvation. She tried the promise in Moroni to read, meditate and pray to know if El libro de Mormon is true and she received her answer. We had the baptism well prepared so there were lots of members. Elder Corro, Sister Hacking and I also prepared a special number and sang the Saviors Love with the different voices and stuff. It was a great baptism service. On Sunday she was confirmed and it has also brought her husband back. It is the first time we have seen him in church with his white shirt and tie so we are very excited for them.
Also some more awesome news. When I was in Tierra Linda before, we found a young 12 year old boy named Julian. We started teaching him and he wanted to be baptized. He was baptized the week after I left to be an AP. His mom was very Catholic and let him be baptized but told us frankly that she was Catholic and that was that. But we convinced her to go to his baptism and she liked it. The missionaries then got her to go to church and bit by bit the seed of faith started to grow. Long story short, now 3 months later she and her four other children were baptized this last Saturday. I really was amazed and it is such a rewarding experience. From a little kid who we were able to find and prepare for baptism, a whole family has now found the Church. The missionaries say his cousins are now receiving the lessons. It really shows the worth of not giving up. The Lord blessed us and it is worth it a million times over. We also have some good investigators that have baptismal dates for this month in our area so things are going well there.
Today for pday we went to the Chapel as a district and played half an hour of Soccer and half an hour of BBall. Elder Amador was the only one who really knew anything about basketball so it was kind of a disaster but it was fun to get some exercise and have a basketball in my hands. After that the 6 of us went to our house and Ordered Dominos pizza for lunch. They had a special of 10 thousand pesos a pizza (5 BUCKS) so we ordered 4 and downed them. I know that’s a very nice spiritual experience(haha) but I was amazed at how cheap they were and even more amazing was that they were gone in about 10 minutes.
Today, we will have our weekly meeting with President Hacking. We have lots to talk about including the transfers this coming week, some missionary situations and more. Oh by the way, Elder Corro got his shirt and it is perfect he was very grateful.
Oh another cool experience, The other day we (Elder Amador and I) ended up in a lesson with a Pentecostal Lady who was like "Bible Guru know every scripture in the world to prove us wrong" We went in there with our scriptures and testimonies and taught and testified with clarity, every principle of the Restoration and literally left her silent. We gave her a Book of Mormon and she agreed to read and pray about it. It was awesome because we didn’t at any time fight or speak badly of anything she believed, we just shared and testified what we believed with the scriptures. Literally the Spirit worked through us to be able to teach her. As far as my knowledge of scriptures or ability to teach I know very little, but with the Lord anything is possible. I learn everyday and my understanding and testimony grow everyday.
Haha I am sorry if my letter is dramatic or corny but it was a great week and I really felt the spirit. I know what I am doing is right, I love ya mucho and my prayers are with you. Be of good cheer, we might as well. Love Elder B
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