Semana Santa and Zulma's Baptism

Hello

 

So this week was filled with a whole lot of good moments and hard days, but Saturday and Sunday where pretty darn amazing.

 

During the week not a whole lot happened, we are really having a hard time finding investigators right now, we have done a whole lot of contacting and met a lot of interesting people.

 

Wednesday we had a conference with the zone in Ibague and Presidente Baquerizo, it was pretty powerful we learned a lot about setting goals and how our studies should help us out. And I got to see my companion from the CCM Elder Marsh!!! He is doing really good, having a lot of fun. He is a good Missionary.

 

The other days we didn't have all that much, a lot of contacting, a lot of rejection. But that's part of the work.

 

Saturday we had the baptism of Zulma!!!!!!!!!!!! She was really prepared by the Lord, and has an amazing testimony! The day was pretty crazy, inviting everybody we could to the service and getting it all ready. But the ordinance when really smoothly and my companion did a great job! She was really happy afterwards, there was a spirit of joy that doesn't come from anything else. Also we had a appointment with Leonardo Luna who baptized Christopher, and as we were getting stuff ready he asked me about how the mission papers worked. We told him about it and he shared with us that he wants to go on a mission! He is going to talk with the branch president to get them started.

 

Sunday..... It was a good one!! So I got to confirm Zulma as a member of the church, and that was a pretty exciting moment. I was pretty darn nervous, so my Spanish wasn't perfect but I felt like it went well. What a wonderful opportunity I have been given here as a missionary!!!

 

On Thursday the branch was able to go to the temple in Bogota and a lot of the youth got to go for the first time. Leonardo was also one of those, so he got the chance to go and do baptisms. He was invited Sunday to share his testimony about his experience. Now Leo is a really quiet, shy kinda guy, and I've never really heard him bear his testimony. Then he got to the pulpit and started to talk.... and that's when he just put his head down and started bawling. He felt the spirit big time, and gave one of the simplest and most heartfelt testimonies I've ever heard. There has been a wonderful change taken place in him, he's doing really well.

Semana Santa was kinda crazy, Colombia also played against Bolivia and so there was pretty much no one home this week.

 

I am really excited for conference, we should get to watch it in the Chapel.

 

Easter, I kinda forgot that happened XD That doesn't exist here really so we just got the normal rice and beans.

 

One guy we contacted talked a whole lot about how he had met with missionaries before and stuff like that, but then he started to tell us how "No offense, I respect all religions, but your beliefs are horrible!" And stuff like that. Always interesting to see the opposition there is in the world to the truth.

 

Looking forward to finding new people to teach!!!!!

 

 

Love for everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Elder Kendall

Oh yeah Alma 26 and D&C 18:11-16!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Zulma's baptism

Elder Melendez

Elder Marsh from CCM

 

Workin hard=Blessings Received

Hello Family and Friends!!

 

So.... Ian is a rugby BEAST!!! Just wanted to get that out there.

 

This week we have been seeing some good things coming, although this coming week is "Semana Santa" (Holy Week) and that is going to be interesting.

 

The best part about the week is our investigator Zulma Sanchez. She is doing amazing. Each time we meet with her she has read a TON in the Book of Mormon. In between one of our appointments she was just starting 2nd Nephi, and then like 4 days later when we met with her again she had already gotten into Mosiah!!! We had an appointment this week and during it we talked about how we had planned her baptism date for the 2nd of April, but we forgot it was conference weekend(don't ask me how we forgot that) and so we were going to move it to the 9th. She was pretty sad we were going to have to move it back, and she asked us if there was anything we can do to move it a week early to the 26th of March instead. We weren't sure, but we called President to find out. We told him about how well she is doing, how she has told us repeatedly that she knows the church is true, and he said that she can do it!!!! So, this Saturday she is going to get baptized!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

It is a huge testimony of how the gospel blesses peoples lives and how there are people prepared for us. 

 

Also, we have another investigator that we contacted knocking on doors. Her name is Carol Ensisa, and she is really good too. She grew up learning a ton of the Bible from her father, and has been enjoying the lessons of the gospel we have taught. She told us she wanted to go to church and she if she liked it, because she was searching for a church to go to. She told us that if she liked what she saw at church and felt something, she was willing to be baptized. So this Sunday we went to go get her to bring her to church. We got into the chapel and she sat down near the front. Then our Ward mission leader took her and sat her down in between two ladies in the chapel, and we were sitting in the bench next to hers. I've never been so nervous during a sacrament meeting in my life!!!! The whole time I was praying so hard that she would feel the spirit and like church. The talks were good, and we were feeling good, but not sure how she was feeling. Then in the Gospel Principles class, we were divided into groups to learn about the life of Christ. Then all the groups shared what they learned, and Carol got up and shared a part about what they talked about in her group!! Her first time in church and she was already sharing stuff!! 

 

After it all, we talked to her and asked her she felt at church....... and she said she loved it!!!!!!!!!!!!!
She felt really good and liked it a lot, she has a baptism date for the 16th of April, and I really think she will be ready before then for baptism.

 

So yeah, those are my both big experiences this week, both on Sunday. Other than that we are working a whole lot on finding, and getting new investigators.

 

THE GOSPEL IS TRUE!!!!! I love this work!!!! If we do all we can to work hard, we can recieve blessings. 

 

Love, 

Elder Kendall

HELLO MOM!!! AND FAMILY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey hey hey! This exchange is going fast, like all the time here in Colombia. 

(I think all the rice has something to do with it.)

 

We`re still looking for new people to teach, a lot of the investigators or less active families that we had when Elder Justiniano was here have stopped wanting to meet with us, because I guess they were used to my old companion and have lost interest. So, we are trying really hard to find some other people. But, we are doing it and working hard to get people to church.

 

Zulma is doing good, she has been struggling her sister is in the hospital and is not doing very well, so she is very worried. She wasn't going to go to church Sunday to visit her sister but her aunt (who is a member) helped her know that if she made the sacrifice to go to church she would be blessed. and she came!!!! 

 

The rule to speak English is there so that our Latino companions can learn English, because it's a big focus for them here in the mission. 

 

Easter here is for a whole week and its called "Semana Santa," and it is going to be a party. People take the whole week off and do stuff with their families, so it should be a good time. But I don't think it'll be like it is at home. I'm pretty sure we will have a conference with another zone in Ibague, but I'm not sure when it'll be. It should be pretty cool.

 

I LOVE that the reception is going to be in Cubbys backyard, I miss that place, and those people!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

This morning in my personal study I read Alma chapter 5, and it is OUTSTANDING!!!! It really puts down sin and give testimony of how we can know if these things are true. It is powerful for real.

 

So things are going here, nothing crazy for food this week, I found some Trix cereal which is magical.

 

LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Elder Kendall

Find some new's, and Cow Feet

SALUTATIONS FOLKS!!! (hope I spelt salutations right, looks a little weird to me)

6 Months in the mission!!! Why is time going so fast???.........

The dentist office gave me 4 new tooth brushes to use for each six months of mission, so now I'm opening a brand new one!!!!!

This week was pretty aight, the first few days were kinda hard, but it got better by the end of the week. We have been struggling to have a lot of lessons, for some reason a lot of our appointments fell. I don't like it when that happens!!!!!

Tuesday we got to meet with a reference of a member, her name is Zulma Sanchez and she is awesome!!! We first met her in the chapel, she has been investigating the church for about 4 years but hasn't been baptized, she had a date to be baptized with the other missionaries but she couldn't complete her goal for work and other things. But she is super righteous!!! She reads the Book of Mormon every day and loves to pray, the only thing she faults now is to go to church darny darn it!!!! She was going to be baptized the 26th of March. She lives in Flandes, which is part of our area that we can't enter because it's a little bit more dangerous, but she has a hair-cut place in Girardot. We passed by the Saturday before to remind here to attend, and she said that she would be there. But, Sunday came and.... No Zulma! We are trying to find out why she didn't come but we haven't been able to talk to her.

The rest of the day, our appointments fell, same with all of Wednesday, and also Thursday. Which was rough. Sometimes we confirm twice the appointments and still nothin, but we were able to find some new people.

Friday we had a zone conference, and there's a new rule!! When we are in our house, we can only speak English!!!! Which is really hard XD My companion doesn't know any, so I've been teaching him a lot of words and such and it has made me realize that English is really weird!!! haha XD But things were better this day, we were able to have our appointments and find some new people that are pretty sweet. 

Saturday I got some pretty interesting lunch....... It was cow feet, but the fat/jelly part that comes from the foot of the cow. It was pretty much pure fat, and it still had all the little hairs of the cow on the outside skin part....... I couldn't make myself do it. My companion helped me out, he is a good companion like that.

It's been hot as usual, really hot XD But my companion and I are good and we are having a good time out here.

Some things are hard, but we are doing some good things out here and I'm lovin it!

LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Elder Kendall

P.S. I told you homework is stupid!!!!!! XD 

 

A little P-day selfie for ya, we went on a hike today!!

Pretty sweet mountains out here

Sweet view!!

 

 

 

 

First Baptism, Amazing Experience

Hello hello hello everybody!!!!!! 

 

So, this week was a tough one having to lead the area and show where everything is, but it's all good because....... We had my first baptism!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

The whole thing was really good, it was really exciting to see Christopher make it to this step in the Gospel. Earlier in the week it was pretty tough, we really need to find new people to teach, which we are working on a whole lot. A lot of appointments fell through, I don't like it when that happens but sometimes it happens a lot. But Saturday and Sunday were both amazing!!!!! That day were visiting people by his house, inviting a bunch of people to come to his baptism. When we passed by Christopher was there and said that he wanted to come with us to visit people, so we asked our leaders for permission and he got to come along! It was a little bit hectic, but cool to get to go around with him before hand. The actual baptismal service was pretty darn stressful, Leonardo that was going to baptize Christopher showed up late, didn't have a change of clothes for after, and a lot of other stressfull stuff happened. BUT none of that mattered because the coolest part in the whole world was when my companion Elder Melendez and I got to be the witnesses to the baptism to make sure all the stuff was done correctly. In that moment, it is indescribable the joy and love and happiness that I felt for this guy of 12 years old get baptized by his cousin. Leo performed the baptism perfectly and it was the flippin coolest thing ever. It is and experience that I will definalty NEVER forget. 

 

Sunday, since Leonardo did the baptism that meant someone else had to do the confirming and guess what......... that person was ME!!!!! I was so so so SO nervous, but it was a really cool experience, I confirmed him a member and everything IN SPANISH!!!!! It was an amazing thing, I'm  so grateful for the gift of tongues--LIFE SAVER! 

 

In our gospels principles class this same day, the subject was prayer, and how we recieve the answers to our prayers. We were broken up into groups, sharing our ideas and then after, each group got to share in front of the class. One of the Sisters shared a story that I will never be able to forget. She shared how one day she was in the hospital with her aunt, going crazy with stress and sadness because her aunt was dying of cancer. She had no idea what to do, and prayed to our Father in Heaven that she might not be alone and that she might recieve some support. That's when she looked at me and talked about how in this dire moment of need, she could see Elder Justiniano and I pass by the entrance of the hospital on our way to our area. And in that moment she said that we accompanied her in that time of crisis, that we had answered her prayers and that she could feel comfort. As she saw us she could feel her prayer being answered, and that we were with her just from passing by. She thanked us for our service and for being there when she was in need.

 

I had no idea that this had happened untill she shared her experience with the whole class. I was absolutly astounded, and will never be able to forget how she looked at me and told this story of how when we didnt even know it, we were able to bring comfort and peace just by passing by. 

 

In my time here in Girardot, I have passed by that entrance of the hospital hundreds of times, and each time it is a struggle, because we have to climb up a very steep incline to the top of the hill to pass by the hospital and get to our area. Many times I felt very tired physically and to be honest sometimes I didn't want to do it. But I will never, ever, regret it. 

 

We have an unbelievable abilitly to impact those who surround us each day, when we carry the light of Christ, we can bring support and help to others when we don't even know they need it. Always, always, be worthy to share that light, to share that love, that others will need. I have a testimony, that you will never know when someone is going to need it. 

 

So very amazing these two days, and yes, I have been keeping a journal and I haven't missed a day :D I love the gospel, it is the best thing ever.

 

I don't have access to papa's blog, I'll have to ask him, that sounds like what we eat everyday!!!! No just kidding XD

 

The time goes so fast, can't wait to keep having life changing experiences on the mission!!!!!

LOVE EVERYBODY!!!!!!

Elder Kendall

 

Here is Christopher in the middle, he was baptized by his cousin Leonardo!!!

 

Big Transfers and Liver, an interesting week

Hey hey everybody!!!!!!! 

Alright, so transfers happened, and it was pretty crazy. I staying here in Girardot for another transfer! We pretty much new before the transfer call on Sunday that my companion was going to go, but what we didn't expect was a call he got Friday night. One of the AP´s called and told him he´s going to Leticia!!!!! So he had to leave Saturday at 5, and I was with my district leader and his companion until today. Super crazy, he left for Leticia and I was here waiting to know who is my new companion. He got here today, his name is Elder Melendez, and he´s from Peru! He seems pretty cool, and this transfer is for 8 weeks so were going to have lots of time to talk.  He's got about 9 months, not to much more than me. What's crazy is that by the end of this transfer I'm going to have 7 months in the mission........ LIKE WHAT!!!!!

 

We have been teaching Christopher, and he came to church this past Sunday so we are all ready for his baptism this Saturday!!!! All he needs is to have his interview and to make sure all is ready, and it should be a good day! His cousin Leonardo our recently-reactivated member is having an interview to baptize him too, its going to be pretty darn legit. 

 

We have some pretty promising people as well, although Jaime stopped meeting with us, he didn't like how different church was and how everybody talked so much about D&C and all these different books and that he just wanted to continue in his church where his wife goes. Also she influenced him in that to, she didn't like us all that much. It was pretty sad, me and my comp both felt that he knew that the Book of Mormon is true, and that the church was as well, but just couldn't take that step. Hopefully in the future he will be ready. 

 

It has been raining here a whole lot, which is pretty weird, I actually woke up this morning a little cold, which never ever happens here. 

 

Oh yeah, and guess what I ate for lunch Tuesday...... LIVER!!!!!! When we got to lunch they put the plate and I thought "oh yeah, it's the same meat as always," but then I cut it, and it was kinda weird, and then I tasted it, and it was really weird!! I couldn't finish eating it, which was hard but it just wasn't good. Then afterwards I learned it was liver and I thought "Ah, yup that makes more sense." Not my favorite food XD 

 

It has been a good amount of work here in Girardot, but we are finding a lot of promising people and it is a lot of fun. I really do love being a missionary!   I'm really happy and enjoying the mission. Going to be showing the area to my new companion, it is going to be fun. I LOVE BEING ON A BIKE!!! I dont think I can go back haha.

 

CHOW CHOW TIENE UNA BUENÍSIMO SEMANA!!!!!!!!!

 

All of my love, 

 

Elder Kendall

Look what I found!!

Good week, Had an Interview with President Baquerizo

HELLO EVERYBODY!!! 

This week was pretty sweet, we had a ton of good work this week with finding new investigators and we taught a ton of lessons!!! It's hot like normal, but sometimes it has been raining at night, which is kinda crazy. 

 

There's one guy we are teaching who we contacted in front of his house, and he came to church yesterday!!! His name is Jaime and he is super good. He told us that he ran from work to get over to the church, has been reading the Book of Mormon and really likes what we have been teaching him. Today we have an appointment with him where we are going to talk about the word of wisdom. He has a ton of faith and is really progressing. He has a baptism date for the 5th of March.

 

We should be having a ton of good things happening in the coming weeks, and it is going to be different because the next transfer is going to be for eight weeks instead of six. They are changing the time the Latinos stay in the CCM to three weeks instead of two, and that's why this next transfer will be longer. This Sunday is when we will know the changes and it's pretty much 100% that my companion is going to leave and I will get another one. He has been here a long time so he is excited to experience something new. 

 

On Wednesday, I got to have an interview with President Baquerizo, he came to Girardot and taught us some stuff and afterward we had interviews! It was super awesome, he is an amazing guy. We have applied a lot of what he has told us and it is for that reason that we had such an awesome week. It was cool to get to talk to him and to have the opportunity to ask questions. We had to miss lunch to be at the interview with President, so he took me and my companion and the Zone Leaders out to lunch at a place called the Corral. Its pretty much the closest thing to American hamburgers that they have here in Colombia. It was a lot of fun to go to lunch with President and talk about his mission and other stuff. 

 

My stomach is fine, so don't worry :D 

I love all the pictures and love you guys!!!!!!

LOVE YOU!!!!!!

Elder Kendall

PS - So I forgot to tell you, with my companion I learned what was the reason that I have been put with him. It is so that I can learn patience. Something that helped me this week was that I put it into these terms ``I got a big bowl of patience soup, and I've got to eat it all'' So that has been helping me out, I have been able to change my attitude. It isn't super easy, I'm still workin on that soup, but we're gettin there. 

 

Also, woke up yesterday with some sort of head cold, and by the time we were heading home I was so tired that I started singin ''I Want a Hippopatamus for Christmas!!!'' out loud to myself.  Thought that was pretty funny.  Once I repeated this song about a thousand times, I started it up with Nelli the Elephant, so just some quality stuff XD