Chinchina, Valar Morghulis, Week 55

I guess this week was Thanksgiving?!? I honestly don´t now dates of Holidays. I think we ate chicken, rice, and potatoes for our Thanksgiving lunch and then at night I think we went to a bakery and bought bread...

We didn´t buy anything on Black Friday because none of the stores had deals, and then the power went out so all the stores closed at like 5 in the afternoon. 

This Sunday was the Sacrament Meeting of the Kids! I think we call it the Primary Program... a three year old kid bore his testimony literally like this, ¨I want to bear my testimony that I know that Joseph Smith was taken, put in prison, and killed. In the name of Jesus Christ amen.¨ Everyone was dying. 

We helped a family put up Christmas lights this week which reminded me of old times! Like every year putting up lights all by myself. Except this time it was easier cus we just hot glued the lights and I didn't have to get on the roof... 

I´d like to share a story from D and C 105:1-5

Verily I say unto you who have assembled yourselves together that you may learn my will concerning the redemption of mine afflicted people. Behold, I say unto you, were it not for the transgressions of my people, speaking concerning the church and not individuals, they might have been redeemed even now. But behold, they have not learned to be obedient to the things which I required at their hands, but are full of all manner of evil, and do not impart of their substance, as becometh saints, to the poor and afflicted among them; And are not united according to the union required by the law of the celestial kingdom; And Zion cannot be built up unless it is by the principles of the law of the celestial kingdom; otherwise I cannot receive her unto myself.

A little context, basically the original saints of the Church were receiving much persecution. They found that it was hard to be a Mormon! They knew it was true, but they were going through really hard times. They had heard promises of blessings and building up Zion when they decided to be baptized, but they quickly found out that being Mormon didn't give you a free pass to an ez life.  The Lord basically cuts their heads here saying that Zion is not being built because they are not obedient, they are evil, they do not share what they have, and they are not united. 

As members of the Church, our responsibility is to build up Zion where ever we are. We have to learn how to follow the Celestial Laws so that we can be received by the Lord in the last day. Obviously there are places that are more Zion-like than others, in these places we need to change ourselves first in order to be in harmony with the Zion that already exists. Being a Mormon does not give us a free pass to Zion. Building up Zion requires sacrifice personally and as a community. 

Love you guys lots! Have a good week! 

1. The classic way in Colombia to mark a huge hole in the ground is to put a piece of bamboo in it.

Chinchina, Valar Morghulis, Week 54

Hiiiiiiiii, welcome to another transfer in Chinchina, and yes, all men must die. 

Elder Guerra is actually my 3rd comp from Florida, fun fact. 

It was a good week! We met a lot of members who I had never talked to and found some new investigators too! Knocking doors in Colombia is spooky sometimes because girls are snakey... lots of that this week! 

We don't have any investigators progressing, but some less actives are coming back to church. Our main focus rn in the branch is getting the members to care about their branch enough to start visiting people and retaining the members that attend right now. Surprisingly there is a lot of opposition to simple things such as visiting and home teaching...

My companion and I wanted to plan a cookout grill party for the branch where we cook meat, but EVERYONE started freaking out because they said that we had to make arepas too, and we said no

Not much else to say I guess... Love you homies lots have a gr8 week 

1. A door leading to the metal roof of a house...

2. My comp Elber Guerra

Chinchina, Basically Sodom and Gomorrah, Week 53

This week I took tons of pictures so that you can see what it looks like to live a week in Colombia.

1. Pday selfie and my comp is weird

2. On a bus going up the mountain to Manizales

3. Comp, ZL, and DL. They all finished the mission so we roasted them in a zone meeting (BOOM ROASTED)

1. A random table in a random restaurant in Colombia. A shame that such classic comedy has to be wasted on people that will never understand...

2. The random restaurant called 101 dogs. Its like 101 Dalmations, but it sells food. 

3. We tried to make :/ faces

1. Colombia

2. With the bald guy that likes to talk to us about random nonsense

3. "PUT YOUR GARBAGE IN THE GARBAGE BOTTLE"- Elder Cruz

1. Basically the Colombian version of my sister Madi, ft cat shirt

2. A prayer circle in the middle of the city, "Bird Mary, Mother of God....."

3. Gettin those arms ready to go running at 6:30

1. I took a picture of all my breakfasts this week, but they all look like this so ya. Eggs, hotdogs, and grapefruit soda

2. My comp eats the same thing, just with more Mexico (tortillas)

3. He bought a Colombian jersey for his doge. 

1. It wouldnt be a Mormon Chapel without the FOOSBALL TABLE! This building in Chinchina doesnt have a piano btw. 

2. More food pls. 

3. Cutest baby SA

1. Your classic empanada stand, aka Elder Cruz's future career

2. Dinner with members. Arepa with chorizo

3. Dinner part 2. Arepa with cheese, hot chocolate, and crackers

1. Looks like the cars dressed up to celebrate Donald Trump #trumpsupremeoverlord

2. A normal road. I also take prom pictures if youre interested

3. When he's had 2 years of white rice and cant eat another grain. I'm starting to contemplate my sanity as well...

1. Oink

2. "I'm packing"- Elder Cruz

3. It's dangerous to go alone! Take this! 

1. Is this what a mickey mouse pancake looks like?

2. me: RUN him: I AM RUN

3. Riperoni Pepperoni 

End of spam! 

So ya this was my week! My new companion is Elder Guerra from Florida, he finishes the mission in 4 weeks, and I can understand him better in Spanish than in English. 

Love you guys lots! Have a good week and Praise Helix 

Chinchina, Basically Sodom and Gomorrah, Week 52!

Hey homies! I have now officially been in Colombia for over 1 year. 

Today I heard that 3 people that I taught in Pereira got baptized recently 

My companion finishes the mission this Sunday which is sad, but he should be going to BYU, first to study English tho. So I should be able to see him again! 

Things are going well here in Chinchina, but its always hard. Listening to a talk by Jeffery R Holland I heard something I really liked. 

Some blessings come soon, some come late, and some don’t come until heaven; but for those who embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ, they come.

Hope you guys are doing well. I'm running out of things to say. Love you all lots 

Pic 1 We go running in the mornings to a cool lake.

Pic 2 . My comp likes to eat Granadillas, aka alien eggs.

We go running in the mornings to a cool lake.

My comp likes to eat Granadillas, aka alien eggs

Yasmin and Juan Pablo that I taught in my last area got baptized!