Do they celebrate valentines day in Colombia?
Instead of celebrating valentines day, they make it the whole month of October! mes de amor y amistad! That's a bunch of love! As for my valentines day, just like every other holiday, I forgot and someone had to remind me. Happily Monday night I was in a meeting, and my whole group from the MTC was there. So we had 4 valentines! they were guys but, still cool! .....right!?
Yesterday i realized that there are only 3 elders that have more time my group. snikes.
I have been meaning to ask you, are the floods still an issue in Columbia? Did you ever have to deal with them?
They seem to have died down. My sector of Bogota is pretty well developed with the whole draining system. But some elders in Cucuta had to wade trough some knee deep water in some streets. FYI it's about to rain. but dont worry we got a covered soccer field booked at 2 in the afternoon!
This last Sunday we had a stake conference. We invited a family to go, they said they would go if we went to their church, we said ´´deal.´´ So they went to the stake conference, and yesterday, we went to their church. que cosa.
Basically, my experience yesterday just made me so glad to know where the truth is, because if I didn't I'd be standing up with my hands in the air for over an hour singing the same two songs. Lesson learned: Knowledge is liberating.
In that same conference we received a reference from other elders that a member had brought her family that lives in our area, and that her grandson wants to learn more. So later that day after an appointment fell through, we looked at the direction and realized it was on the other side of the alley. We went and enjoyed a great experience.
The Butrago family is a very well educated, just all around good family. They have always identified themselves with the catholic church. But the Felipe, 17 years old, told us that he likes how he feels in his grandma's church and they he wants to go back and learn more. Turned out he wasn't the only one. We knocked on the door and the dad let us right in. They had just finished lunch with a family from another ward. We talked with them for a little bit and they told they loved the conference. We then shared a message, the members there shared their testimonies, and the mom, Clara, shared with us how much she supported Felipe in his decision and that it would be a great blessing in his life, she then shared one of the most purest testimony I have heard. She told us how she had seen the blessings that her sister's family, that are members, have received and that she wants that for her family, and how she knew that if they keep going to church their family will be blessed too, and then she pleaded with her husband, holding his hand, with so much love so that he could open up his heart and learn more. He then told us that he believes what the church teaches is true, and that he wants all of his family to go to church and learn more. You could cut the Spirit with a knife it was so strong in that little room.
Thinking about how big of a impact Clara's sister family had on her made me thinking of the simple, one lined, definition of missionary work in la guia para las escrituras (which is like the topical guide in spanish). It states: ´´Misionary Work: To share the gospel of Jesus Christ by word and by example.´´
We are finding some great families. We're loving it.
I love you all!
Happy Valentines day!
e. adams
p.s. Great name choice Austin! viva Colombia!
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Goals are so important!
Familia,
Emergency flight landing. four car pile up. Dad's the cat with 9 lives. So glad that your alright Pops. If you guys could just see the streets here in colombia. They got just one rule: there are no rules! what's up!
Welp we had changes this last Tuesday. Looks like I'll be staying here in suba for 6 more weeks. Elder Huaita is staying too! That'll be a good 4 1/2 months together. I was kind of waiting for a change. But I'm still stoked. We teach tooo good together. it's like a symphony. Just kidding, but we've been able to mold to each others style and we have had some really great experiences and lessons.
Anderson's baptism went great. We had a combined service in our district, there were 7 people baptized. Elder Martinez baptized for the first time. that kid is the best! I can't believe how awesome Anderson is. He had invited about half of the attendance. We're super pumped to take him over to our other investgators houses to testify. When he bore his testimony after the baptism he told everyone that he wanted to take what he felt in that momment and just give it to other people. He told us later that when he got home that night his sister asked him what happened, why did he look so white and vibrent. Goood stuff. I'm thinking future elder's quorom president. He's going to be an energizer to wake up this sleepy ward.
The other day we were walking to an apointment at about 730, when I asked my companion how many contacts we had done---19. Our goal was 20. We turned around and we contacted the first family that we found. We talked with them for a little bit and they said, ´´Hey, we live just around the corner, walk with us.´´ Turns out that that around the corner was two alleys outside of our area, but we were able to have a super spirtual lesson and we just knew that the Lord had placed them in our path. We taught about baptism, their answer: ´´Amen, of course we want to´´. I learned a great lesson about goals that day. Why we make goals, and that the lord test our faith to see if were willing to work to reach them. Who knows if it's the 20th that really will give our goal purpose, and if the Lord is just waiting for us to show our faith.
Thanks for everything!
i love you,
e. adams
Emergency flight landing. four car pile up. Dad's the cat with 9 lives. So glad that your alright Pops. If you guys could just see the streets here in colombia. They got just one rule: there are no rules! what's up!
Welp we had changes this last Tuesday. Looks like I'll be staying here in suba for 6 more weeks. Elder Huaita is staying too! That'll be a good 4 1/2 months together. I was kind of waiting for a change. But I'm still stoked. We teach tooo good together. it's like a symphony. Just kidding, but we've been able to mold to each others style and we have had some really great experiences and lessons.
Anderson's baptism went great. We had a combined service in our district, there were 7 people baptized. Elder Martinez baptized for the first time. that kid is the best! I can't believe how awesome Anderson is. He had invited about half of the attendance. We're super pumped to take him over to our other investgators houses to testify. When he bore his testimony after the baptism he told everyone that he wanted to take what he felt in that momment and just give it to other people. He told us later that when he got home that night his sister asked him what happened, why did he look so white and vibrent. Goood stuff. I'm thinking future elder's quorom president. He's going to be an energizer to wake up this sleepy ward.
The other day we were walking to an apointment at about 730, when I asked my companion how many contacts we had done---19. Our goal was 20. We turned around and we contacted the first family that we found. We talked with them for a little bit and they said, ´´Hey, we live just around the corner, walk with us.´´ Turns out that that around the corner was two alleys outside of our area, but we were able to have a super spirtual lesson and we just knew that the Lord had placed them in our path. We taught about baptism, their answer: ´´Amen, of course we want to´´. I learned a great lesson about goals that day. Why we make goals, and that the lord test our faith to see if were willing to work to reach them. Who knows if it's the 20th that really will give our goal purpose, and if the Lord is just waiting for us to show our faith.
Thanks for everything!
i love you,
e. adams
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
The Lord trust us
Familia,
Great to hear that Preston is tearing it up in t-ball---edgar renteria 2.0 (who is Colombian thank you very much).
Yesterday when we went to visit one of our investigators they had 5 new puppies and I thought of mamá tess. I loved the pictures you sent with the kids holding the pups. I can't believe how big Aliana is---crazy.
This week a new elder came from the states. He was serving in the Tempe mission for a couple weeks waiting for his visa. We went to go pick him up and he is now living in our house with his trainer. He's the best! I went on interchanges yesterday. His parents are from El Salvador so he already knew Spanish pretty well. He's very different from the other elders. It's a little hard to understand what he says, but when he talks, when he prays, there is power behind his words, so when he talks, people listen and feel.
This next week there are changes in the mission---about 20 heading home, 17 coming in---the most of which are gringos. I bet about half the mission is going to have a change. It's either my companion or me leaving. At least we'll both be here for the baptism of Anderson. He already has gone to church 3 times so we moved up his baptismal date, his response---''excelente''. Sunday we taught the combined 5th Sunday class, we gave everyone a book of Mormon to write their testimony and give it to a friend. Right after church he dropped it off to one of his friends and invited her to his baptism. I love hearing the changes that he's making in his life through the gospel. This guy is too good. He's now best friends with the bishop.
I don't think I've been in an area where I've seen more miracles than in this one. Last friday we were teaching Anderson when we got a call from a member in a different stake. She was in the area and wanted to present us to someone. His name is Luis, he's 20 years old, living alone here in Bogota. He's from a city in the Amazons and came here to better the life of his family. A couple days before someone robbed his backpack with absolutely everything of value that he owned, two months of rent, cell phone, identification. He entered a store where a member was working, told her about it, and that was the night we found him. Luis was looking for inner peace, more confidence in himself, and a greater faith in God. He found it that night in the restoration of the gospel and the book of Mormon. He's more sure about his answer then anything he's ever felt. He loved church Sunday, he's now friends with all the young adults, and that night he went with them to the commencement of institutes. Today we ate tacos with him. He absorbs everything we teach him. He loves the idea of being able to go on a mission. I had a strong feeling when we were teaching him that he's going to do great things in the service of the Lord.
Even though the ward here in Suba is suffering, were finding the the Lord's elect. And it makes my companion and I feel like God trust us. It's going to be hard to work with someone else besides elder huaita. we got some serious coaction going on. (props dad!)
Congrats on the new buy grandparents!
I love you all.
e. adams
Great to hear that Preston is tearing it up in t-ball---edgar renteria 2.0 (who is Colombian thank you very much).
Yesterday when we went to visit one of our investigators they had 5 new puppies and I thought of mamá tess. I loved the pictures you sent with the kids holding the pups. I can't believe how big Aliana is---crazy.
This week a new elder came from the states. He was serving in the Tempe mission for a couple weeks waiting for his visa. We went to go pick him up and he is now living in our house with his trainer. He's the best! I went on interchanges yesterday. His parents are from El Salvador so he already knew Spanish pretty well. He's very different from the other elders. It's a little hard to understand what he says, but when he talks, when he prays, there is power behind his words, so when he talks, people listen and feel.
This next week there are changes in the mission---about 20 heading home, 17 coming in---the most of which are gringos. I bet about half the mission is going to have a change. It's either my companion or me leaving. At least we'll both be here for the baptism of Anderson. He already has gone to church 3 times so we moved up his baptismal date, his response---''excelente''. Sunday we taught the combined 5th Sunday class, we gave everyone a book of Mormon to write their testimony and give it to a friend. Right after church he dropped it off to one of his friends and invited her to his baptism. I love hearing the changes that he's making in his life through the gospel. This guy is too good. He's now best friends with the bishop.
I don't think I've been in an area where I've seen more miracles than in this one. Last friday we were teaching Anderson when we got a call from a member in a different stake. She was in the area and wanted to present us to someone. His name is Luis, he's 20 years old, living alone here in Bogota. He's from a city in the Amazons and came here to better the life of his family. A couple days before someone robbed his backpack with absolutely everything of value that he owned, two months of rent, cell phone, identification. He entered a store where a member was working, told her about it, and that was the night we found him. Luis was looking for inner peace, more confidence in himself, and a greater faith in God. He found it that night in the restoration of the gospel and the book of Mormon. He's more sure about his answer then anything he's ever felt. He loved church Sunday, he's now friends with all the young adults, and that night he went with them to the commencement of institutes. Today we ate tacos with him. He absorbs everything we teach him. He loves the idea of being able to go on a mission. I had a strong feeling when we were teaching him that he's going to do great things in the service of the Lord.
Even though the ward here in Suba is suffering, were finding the the Lord's elect. And it makes my companion and I feel like God trust us. It's going to be hard to work with someone else besides elder huaita. we got some serious coaction going on. (props dad!)
Congrats on the new buy grandparents!
I love you all.
e. adams
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