Luz fuentes and her daughter. Another family that I really love. We´re teaching them, and I´ve been tutoring her daughter in English, and guess what? They´re progressing, and she got an almost perfect score on her English test:)
Tuesday, May 29, 2018
Week 89: Fotos de Familias Especial y Precioso con Elder Lewis
Note from Jessica: Another week where the technology in Colombia didnt cooperate. But that's ok! enjoy the pictures!
This is the Familia Salazar. Bryam, Victoria, and Alberto, respectivally. I really love this family. We have exhausted ourselves trying to help them accept the gospel for the last four months, but now they are moving to Bogotá, and then later the US. Alberto is an ex venezuelan military officer, Helicopter pilot, and a host of other things jaja!
Tuesday, May 22, 2018
Week 88: The Miracles of Miriam and Isabella
HEY!!!!
Well, it’s been another week here in Cucuta. We are walking right now to the internet so sorry if this sound quality isn’t that good. But this week has had a couple of miracles in it. I guess it was Wednesday that we went to an investigator that we have, her name is Miriam. She and her family have been listening to us for awhile now. Their traditions are Catholic, actually, they both have money that they have made selling beaded necklaces that they use to pray, they are called Rosarios. Also, statues of the Virgin Mary and the Saints. If you don’t know about that tradition, just ask Conrad. He will know. Los Santos. So their traditions are pretty set in. But we have had a lot of success with them lately, they have been reading, or listening to the Book of Mormon actually, I gave them my USB to listen to the Book of Mormon. So we went, and it was Miriam, who is kind of a large lady, and has had a couple of accidents where she has fallen down getting in and out of the house. So she was, I guess, walking through the outdoor patio which a lot of houses have here, and she fell and she hurt her back, her pelvis, and her head and when we got there she was in bed. So they just said: “hey, let’s just leave her alone for today.” And so we shared a message with the rest of the family, then afterwards we felt like we should offer to give her a blessing. So we went into her room and there she was actually sitting in a chair, but just like… I don’t know. You could see that she was in a lot of pain. But we talked to her and said: “hi, how are you?” and she said: “I’m really sad. It just hurts a lot. My pelvis, my back, and my head.” More than anything, I would imagine that she was just frustrated that she had fallen again. It’s frustrating when we have a physical disability because of a fall. It’s a hard thing to get over emotionally as well. So we went in and said: “Miriam, would you like a blessing?” and she said yes. I had actually given her a blessing a little while ago with Elder Prestwich. So my companion anointed her and I gave her a blessing. But before that I asked her: “Miriam, do you believe that we possess the Priesthood Authority of God?” and she said yes. “Miriam, do you believe that Jesus Christ can heal you?” she said yes. I said ok. I gave her the blessing and it felt right to just tell her “according to your faith, be healed.” Well, those were the words that were said, then we left. As we left, somebody came out of the house and they always give us food to eat. They said “hey come back, come and eat leftovers from lunch with us!” and we said that we had an appointment at 7, but we will come back. So we came back at 8 o’clock and there was Miriam, in front of her house. I went up to her and she looked up at me and said “you lifted me up.” That’s how she said it exactly. Then she starts to cry. Tears just came out. I sat down right by her and said: “Miriam, you know that it wasn’t us.” and she said “I know. I know that Jesus Christ put his hands on my head through you.” It was just really a sweet moment.
Later on in the week we showed her the video “How to find faith in Christ”. We talked about the miracles of Christ and afterwards we talked about the Priesthood Authority and invited her to be baptized along with Luis, her husband. Now she still doesn’t want to commit to being baptized because of the traditions of her family. She says that she would have to get the whole family together and discuss it. Well, they’re very Catholic. I said: “ok, but Miriam, what greater sign can you have from God?” and she said “I know.” So that was a cool experience this week, I am very grateful that God has trusted us with his Priesthood Authority to be able to bless his children. And honestly, through it, the feeling that I felt going in to give that blessing was that the Lord simply wanted to heal her. This is the second blessing that we have given her that has worked. But this one was a little bit….i don’t want to say more effective, but it was more… it had a little bit more impact. She was really in a bad way. And we came back the next day and she was out actually visiting another neighbor that was sick. Imagine that. The day before she couldn’t even walk. I am a witness that the Priesthood Authority is real. I am a witness that Jesus wants to love us and has a great desire to heal us but the best healing that can take place is Spiritual Healing. In Preach my Gospel it says that to be forgiven of your sins is to be healed spiritually. Thus, the Doctrine of Christ: Faith, Repentance, Baptism, Laying on of Hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end for a remission of our sins. These are the feelings that we need to have. We are trying to help them receive that healing.
Another cool thing that happened this week was with Isabella. Isabella, we were actually teaching a couple of references from Jairo, and she kinda peeked her head through the window a couple of months ago and was listening to us, and then we started teaching her. Now we are not teaching them, because they weren’t progressing (they liked to go out and party more than anything) So we started with her, and then she separated from her boyfriend I think it is, she is 17 and pregnant and she lives in a little house flat, and she takes care of her younger siblings while her older siblings and her mom are working all day every day. So it’s really been cool to teach her because in some ways we’re teaching her and some ways she is teaching us. She reads the Book of Mormon with incredible clarity, It’s not even hard to teach her because whenever we ask her to read she can give us a full on recount of the story of Nephi the first time we came. She told us that she felt like the first time that she saw us, she felt like she knew us from somewhere else. Especially my companion. She said “I felt like I knew you from somewhere else…” Also some of the people from the ward. She said that when she came to church with all of her little siblings, and she came with a small army of little kids, like 5 little kids, with Jairo. She said that “when Elder (?) taught, Elder Prestwich’s companion, I felt this burning and it wasn’t painful… but wow. Why do I feel like that?” It was really cool. So she is becoming converted at 17 years old, even thought she is going to have a child, She’s more adult than I think I am. We have to have permission from her mom to be able to baptize her. Which shouldn’t be a problem, we have actually talked to her mom one time. So we are hoping that will come to pass as well, so that they can repent and come unto Christ.
There are many miracles that happen. I know from my own weaknesses that we are not in this fight alone. I know that the Lord orchestrates the way that he does things absolutely perfectly. Being on the mission has put me in a place to know that and it makes me want to try to put myself in his hands as often as I can. Even if it means not completing his plan, because God’s plan is going to be completed whether by me or by someone else. But really, it’s for me to decide if I want to see miracles. If I want to be the means by which someone can see a miracle, even if that miracle is little or if it’s being completely converted to the gospel. Miracles do happen. They are brought to pass by him. Jesus of Nazareth still does miracles, even to this day.
Have a great week! Chao!
-Elder Lewis
The view from the roof of my apartment. It has an open patio in the back, and I can climb the wall. All of those trees are tropical fruit trees! Mango, Coconut, Mandarina, Star fruit:=)
Well, it’s been another week here in Cucuta. We are walking right now to the internet so sorry if this sound quality isn’t that good. But this week has had a couple of miracles in it. I guess it was Wednesday that we went to an investigator that we have, her name is Miriam. She and her family have been listening to us for awhile now. Their traditions are Catholic, actually, they both have money that they have made selling beaded necklaces that they use to pray, they are called Rosarios. Also, statues of the Virgin Mary and the Saints. If you don’t know about that tradition, just ask Conrad. He will know. Los Santos. So their traditions are pretty set in. But we have had a lot of success with them lately, they have been reading, or listening to the Book of Mormon actually, I gave them my USB to listen to the Book of Mormon. So we went, and it was Miriam, who is kind of a large lady, and has had a couple of accidents where she has fallen down getting in and out of the house. So she was, I guess, walking through the outdoor patio which a lot of houses have here, and she fell and she hurt her back, her pelvis, and her head and when we got there she was in bed. So they just said: “hey, let’s just leave her alone for today.” And so we shared a message with the rest of the family, then afterwards we felt like we should offer to give her a blessing. So we went into her room and there she was actually sitting in a chair, but just like… I don’t know. You could see that she was in a lot of pain. But we talked to her and said: “hi, how are you?” and she said: “I’m really sad. It just hurts a lot. My pelvis, my back, and my head.” More than anything, I would imagine that she was just frustrated that she had fallen again. It’s frustrating when we have a physical disability because of a fall. It’s a hard thing to get over emotionally as well. So we went in and said: “Miriam, would you like a blessing?” and she said yes. I had actually given her a blessing a little while ago with Elder Prestwich. So my companion anointed her and I gave her a blessing. But before that I asked her: “Miriam, do you believe that we possess the Priesthood Authority of God?” and she said yes. “Miriam, do you believe that Jesus Christ can heal you?” she said yes. I said ok. I gave her the blessing and it felt right to just tell her “according to your faith, be healed.” Well, those were the words that were said, then we left. As we left, somebody came out of the house and they always give us food to eat. They said “hey come back, come and eat leftovers from lunch with us!” and we said that we had an appointment at 7, but we will come back. So we came back at 8 o’clock and there was Miriam, in front of her house. I went up to her and she looked up at me and said “you lifted me up.” That’s how she said it exactly. Then she starts to cry. Tears just came out. I sat down right by her and said: “Miriam, you know that it wasn’t us.” and she said “I know. I know that Jesus Christ put his hands on my head through you.” It was just really a sweet moment.
Later on in the week we showed her the video “How to find faith in Christ”. We talked about the miracles of Christ and afterwards we talked about the Priesthood Authority and invited her to be baptized along with Luis, her husband. Now she still doesn’t want to commit to being baptized because of the traditions of her family. She says that she would have to get the whole family together and discuss it. Well, they’re very Catholic. I said: “ok, but Miriam, what greater sign can you have from God?” and she said “I know.” So that was a cool experience this week, I am very grateful that God has trusted us with his Priesthood Authority to be able to bless his children. And honestly, through it, the feeling that I felt going in to give that blessing was that the Lord simply wanted to heal her. This is the second blessing that we have given her that has worked. But this one was a little bit….i don’t want to say more effective, but it was more… it had a little bit more impact. She was really in a bad way. And we came back the next day and she was out actually visiting another neighbor that was sick. Imagine that. The day before she couldn’t even walk. I am a witness that the Priesthood Authority is real. I am a witness that Jesus wants to love us and has a great desire to heal us but the best healing that can take place is Spiritual Healing. In Preach my Gospel it says that to be forgiven of your sins is to be healed spiritually. Thus, the Doctrine of Christ: Faith, Repentance, Baptism, Laying on of Hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end for a remission of our sins. These are the feelings that we need to have. We are trying to help them receive that healing.
Another cool thing that happened this week was with Isabella. Isabella, we were actually teaching a couple of references from Jairo, and she kinda peeked her head through the window a couple of months ago and was listening to us, and then we started teaching her. Now we are not teaching them, because they weren’t progressing (they liked to go out and party more than anything) So we started with her, and then she separated from her boyfriend I think it is, she is 17 and pregnant and she lives in a little house flat, and she takes care of her younger siblings while her older siblings and her mom are working all day every day. So it’s really been cool to teach her because in some ways we’re teaching her and some ways she is teaching us. She reads the Book of Mormon with incredible clarity, It’s not even hard to teach her because whenever we ask her to read she can give us a full on recount of the story of Nephi the first time we came. She told us that she felt like the first time that she saw us, she felt like she knew us from somewhere else. Especially my companion. She said “I felt like I knew you from somewhere else…” Also some of the people from the ward. She said that when she came to church with all of her little siblings, and she came with a small army of little kids, like 5 little kids, with Jairo. She said that “when Elder (?) taught, Elder Prestwich’s companion, I felt this burning and it wasn’t painful… but wow. Why do I feel like that?” It was really cool. So she is becoming converted at 17 years old, even thought she is going to have a child, She’s more adult than I think I am. We have to have permission from her mom to be able to baptize her. Which shouldn’t be a problem, we have actually talked to her mom one time. So we are hoping that will come to pass as well, so that they can repent and come unto Christ.
There are many miracles that happen. I know from my own weaknesses that we are not in this fight alone. I know that the Lord orchestrates the way that he does things absolutely perfectly. Being on the mission has put me in a place to know that and it makes me want to try to put myself in his hands as often as I can. Even if it means not completing his plan, because God’s plan is going to be completed whether by me or by someone else. But really, it’s for me to decide if I want to see miracles. If I want to be the means by which someone can see a miracle, even if that miracle is little or if it’s being completely converted to the gospel. Miracles do happen. They are brought to pass by him. Jesus of Nazareth still does miracles, even to this day.
Have a great week! Chao!
-Elder Lewis
This is Elder Goncalves modeling one of the two new additions to my bolivar bag collection! This one featuring bills of 100, 50, and 1000 jaja!
Tuesday, May 15, 2018
Week 87: "As Zion's Youth in Latter-Days..." (and Mother's day call report)
Note from Jessica: We got a chance to chat with Elder Lewis via skype for the last time in his mission on Sunday. He is looking great, happy, and dedicated to the work in Cucuta. We had a great time talking and listening as he bore a powerful testimony of the work in Colombia and Venezuela. He is, as always, true to the faith and sends his love to everyone. -The Lewis family
Hey!
So this week has been a little bit more of the same, like I told you yesterday…By the way, it was really fun to talk to you guys yesterday. It’s good to know that you are doing well, and the whole family looks different! The craziest was Michael! Crazy alto! He’s really tall! Bekah as well. I dunno, you all just looked really good. I hope you are all feeling good. Mike, you’re about done with your Junior year, moving into being a Senior…. And time is moving right on!
This week on my end, not a whole lot has happened. We fasted two weeks ago, and we fasted this week as well to try and help our investigators to progress. We have seen a couple of miracles from that I think. Isabella, who is reading the Book of Mormon like you wouldn’t believe, she’s 17 years old and she is pregnant. We are teaching her and her family but up till right now it’s been her that has been most interested. Her boyfriend or her husband isn’t really that interested. He is more interested in going out to drink and party. So they separated, for family problems, and looks like she will be able to progress now. It’s hard when you are 17, and you’re going to be a mother, and…. I don’t know. I feel like they still want to do teenager things. But we are going to try and help her as much as we can. That’s how it is. People make mistakes. Pretty bad mistakes. But they will get worse if they don’t start living the commandments NOW. That’s our mission with her and her family. Her family is not really that interested. We are going to keep trying. We have been trying to work with the members more lately, the young men have actually really stepped up and have been giving us good references. Sure is cool to go out with young men, teacher, priest age and they give us good references. It’s just the people that they have talked to. They aren’t even good friends of theirs, just like “it’s my friend’s mom that found out that I was Mormon and she asked me about it so I want you guys to come over with me and visit her.” That’s really cool! We are going to try to start working more with the young people. They’ve been encouraging us to stop using as much… like if a young man has a problem or a young man needs fellowshipping, then we should go to the President of the Teacher’s Quorum, not the President of the Young Men. The President of the Teacher’s Quorum has Priesthood Keys, so what are we doing going to the Young Men’s President when he is just an advisor? So, they told us that from the Stake. So its’ really cool when you go up to a young man and say: “Hey, President, I need your help with a young man” how they really step up and they help. The youth of the church are amazing! It’s funny because here in Cucuta, this is like, they are starting up the second generation of the church. The first generation is getting older and they are about ready to pass the torch to the next generation. So they are telling us, “hey, we are not good leaders. We didn’t have the gospel when we were young. But these kids have the gospel while they are young, so help them become good leaders.” So we win because we get references and GREAT fellowshipping, and they win because they get to learn how to lead and how to really care about someone else. So it’s a really good situation.
Let’s see… we have really just been learning the value of references, or referrals. We are also teaching an English class, and I want to start a piano class because I think I could bring some people in for that. But ya… that’s about it for this week. Ilvanis, we have been able to talk to her husband, Richard, a little bit more this week. We are hoping to continue. There’s not a whole lot else. This week we have a good bunch of stuff planned, so we’re looking good. Well, what else can I tell ya? I think that’s my recording for today. Today for P-day we went up into the remote parts of our area up past La Conquista to go and see what the countryside is like. The countryside is actually pretty desert-y. Where inside the city is green you would think it would be like a jungle outside, but there’s patches the size of your house out there. It’s a green desert. It’s really weird. Maybe I will show you pictures. Before, that’s what all of Cucuta was like. Frank was telling us that when he was a kid, you had to go from one place to another with a machete. Not because of thick forest, but because of thick, thick brush. Not brush, it’s like foliage. It’s not like jungle-y it’s just thick. Thick green desert. I’ll have to send you pictures. But I cant even imagine trying to get through that.
Well, I think that’s all for today. We went to the house of Frank and ate arepas reginas, you take arepas like normal, and like a BLT with arepas. I will have to make it for you when I get home. But ya, I have learned how to make Venezuelan arepas. Really good.
Well family, I will let you go then. I love you all and it was good to see you yesterday. Have a great week. Chao!
-Elder Lewis
Hey!
So this week has been a little bit more of the same, like I told you yesterday…By the way, it was really fun to talk to you guys yesterday. It’s good to know that you are doing well, and the whole family looks different! The craziest was Michael! Crazy alto! He’s really tall! Bekah as well. I dunno, you all just looked really good. I hope you are all feeling good. Mike, you’re about done with your Junior year, moving into being a Senior…. And time is moving right on!
This week on my end, not a whole lot has happened. We fasted two weeks ago, and we fasted this week as well to try and help our investigators to progress. We have seen a couple of miracles from that I think. Isabella, who is reading the Book of Mormon like you wouldn’t believe, she’s 17 years old and she is pregnant. We are teaching her and her family but up till right now it’s been her that has been most interested. Her boyfriend or her husband isn’t really that interested. He is more interested in going out to drink and party. So they separated, for family problems, and looks like she will be able to progress now. It’s hard when you are 17, and you’re going to be a mother, and…. I don’t know. I feel like they still want to do teenager things. But we are going to try and help her as much as we can. That’s how it is. People make mistakes. Pretty bad mistakes. But they will get worse if they don’t start living the commandments NOW. That’s our mission with her and her family. Her family is not really that interested. We are going to keep trying. We have been trying to work with the members more lately, the young men have actually really stepped up and have been giving us good references. Sure is cool to go out with young men, teacher, priest age and they give us good references. It’s just the people that they have talked to. They aren’t even good friends of theirs, just like “it’s my friend’s mom that found out that I was Mormon and she asked me about it so I want you guys to come over with me and visit her.” That’s really cool! We are going to try to start working more with the young people. They’ve been encouraging us to stop using as much… like if a young man has a problem or a young man needs fellowshipping, then we should go to the President of the Teacher’s Quorum, not the President of the Young Men. The President of the Teacher’s Quorum has Priesthood Keys, so what are we doing going to the Young Men’s President when he is just an advisor? So, they told us that from the Stake. So its’ really cool when you go up to a young man and say: “Hey, President, I need your help with a young man” how they really step up and they help. The youth of the church are amazing! It’s funny because here in Cucuta, this is like, they are starting up the second generation of the church. The first generation is getting older and they are about ready to pass the torch to the next generation. So they are telling us, “hey, we are not good leaders. We didn’t have the gospel when we were young. But these kids have the gospel while they are young, so help them become good leaders.” So we win because we get references and GREAT fellowshipping, and they win because they get to learn how to lead and how to really care about someone else. So it’s a really good situation.
Let’s see… we have really just been learning the value of references, or referrals. We are also teaching an English class, and I want to start a piano class because I think I could bring some people in for that. But ya… that’s about it for this week. Ilvanis, we have been able to talk to her husband, Richard, a little bit more this week. We are hoping to continue. There’s not a whole lot else. This week we have a good bunch of stuff planned, so we’re looking good. Well, what else can I tell ya? I think that’s my recording for today. Today for P-day we went up into the remote parts of our area up past La Conquista to go and see what the countryside is like. The countryside is actually pretty desert-y. Where inside the city is green you would think it would be like a jungle outside, but there’s patches the size of your house out there. It’s a green desert. It’s really weird. Maybe I will show you pictures. Before, that’s what all of Cucuta was like. Frank was telling us that when he was a kid, you had to go from one place to another with a machete. Not because of thick forest, but because of thick, thick brush. Not brush, it’s like foliage. It’s not like jungle-y it’s just thick. Thick green desert. I’ll have to send you pictures. But I cant even imagine trying to get through that.
Well, I think that’s all for today. We went to the house of Frank and ate arepas reginas, you take arepas like normal, and like a BLT with arepas. I will have to make it for you when I get home. But ya, I have learned how to make Venezuelan arepas. Really good.
Well family, I will let you go then. I love you all and it was good to see you yesterday. Have a great week. Chao!
-Elder Lewis
Elder Lewis and the zones of Cúcuta at Multi-Zone conference.
Elder Lewis showed us (his family) this photo on our video call yesterday. The mountains that you see in the background are the city of Ureña, Venezuela. the distance from where Elder Lewis stands at the top of this hill to those mountains is only about 15 minutes by car.
Monday, May 7, 2018
Week 86: The Death of the Fan
Note from Jessica: Elder Lewis' recording didn't transfer this week, so we have some pictures this time and probably a 2 for1 next week, along with a Mother's Day call report. Stay Tuned, and enjoy!
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Bolivar Bag!
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"because the money is worth less than the paper it's printed on..."
In memory of our beloved fan... Delgadito. Fallecido a las 2:40 de la madrugada, 7 de mayo, 2018...
We woke up to hear our faithful fan dying in the middle of the night and smelling burnt plastic.
Worse was the prospect of sleeping without a fan...
That moment when you come back to the house at 1:00 in the afternoon to finish weekly planning, and you both have to hang up your shirt to dry...
Tuesday, May 1, 2018
Week 85: Cultivating the Heart of a Servant in El Salado
Hey!
So this week has gone really well. We started out the week with Elder Prestwich because Elder Gulla, the… how do you say it… the Filipino, went to Bucaramanga. We had transfers this last week and we were with him for the first part of the week and we enjoyed getting to know his investigators. Had a good time, I don't know what else to say about that haha. But then on, I think on Thursday, we went to the terminal to pick up his new companion who is actually DUN-DUN-DUN-DUUUUUN! (fanfare sound) Venezuelan. He is a Venezuelan that came over here, to Colombia, he went to Cali, which is a city in… well it's pretty dang far away from here. As I understand, it is one the west side of Colombia. He passed through Cucuta on his way there, so he already knows Cucuta pretty well haha. So it was just funny. His name is Elder Mayér. And he is a good guy.
So then we got to work on our area uninterrupted for a couple of days and then one day, I think it was on Friday, or maybe Thursday, (even though I battled a migraine on Thursday and then going to the terminal doesn't help because it's so chaotic…) Cucuta's bus terminal is ridiculous. It's like that movie you've seen… I dunno. So chaotic. If you aren't careful, you're going to get run over. So that didn't help my migraine. Later that day, we were gonna go contact in an area called Panamericano. Our area is a series of like 3 hills. On the other side of one hill, if you stand on the top of the hill, you see the city of Ureña. Ureña is in Venezuela. Our area borders Venezuela, and there is a part down below called El Salado that we felt inspired to go to. It's right on the border with Venezuela. We went down and we knocked on a house, and nothing happened. We went to the next house and they said to come in. so we went in and shared a message with 6 people and we have had the determination to be more in touch with our investigators this week, more constantly, so that they can stay progressing. So we went back a couple of days later to see how they were and found that they had already been sharing it with their family and friends and coworkers. So it was really good. They are a really good family. We should have some good news with them. We are going to try to stay in contact with them every day. But as I have tried to keep in contact more with my investigators, I come to love them more. There are sometimes when you don't get around to seeing your investigators for like 3-4 days between appointments. So, you just need to hit them up with a call, or go see how they are, you just need to go be in contact with them. We have seen a lot of miracles from that. We have seen miracles from reading Preach My Gospel. But ya, we found the familia Puerto, like Puerto Rico.
Well, today for P-Day we went to a place called Calobos (?), and we played soccer. Then, half way through we started playing American Football, because Elder Wood brought his American Football, so we enjoyed a little game of two-hand-touch. It was fun! My companion was just about dying because he hadn't played football in a transfer, but he is alright. He is functioning again haha. He had a shot of football, so we're good. Haha.
I am very happy to be here in Aeropuerto. Very grateful to see the progress of our investigators, like we had another family, her name is Rosemarie, and his name is Luis, and they are kind of older, and they don't read very well, so we downloaded the Book of Mormon on my USB drive, and dropped it by their house. They have been listening to it non-stop for the last couple of days. So we are super excited about that. I am just so happy to be here. I just hope that President leaves me here for awhile. They made me District Leader again, which is a great opportunity, I was reminded how it was being a Zone Leader last night when I was making all the phone calls, when I was filling out the call-in reports, and I am really happy to be a District Leader because I learned a lot from being a Zone leader, but now I get to apply it with a smaller group of missionaries. So I am really excited about that. We are going to see what we can do.
Let's see… what else… Frank made an amazing dish the other day. It was funny because we got there a little early so that we could see him make it, and it was like pork with mango, with pepper and onion and just a ton of salsa. It was SO GOOD. I found out that he is actually not coming to the United States this year, because the missionary that baptized him invited him to go to Barranquilla to see the new temple dedicated here in December. So he is going to go do that in place of going to the United States. But he is going to come the next year is what he says. I guess we will save him a place at the table for Thanksgiving or something like that. I just know that it is his dream to see Christmas in the United States.
Well, that's all for my report today. I am grateful for you guys, I heard that the play was a hit, so congratulations with that, I know that makes a great difference in the lives of those kids. If nothing else, to see something well done through hard work and the effort. That's something that I really appreciate about my family, is that when they do things, they don't just do them halfway. I am trying to learn how to do that myself. What else can I tell you… I'm not sure what you guys want to hear from my recordings…I don't know if I am telling you what you want to hear or whether I am missing the mark completely, so tell me. I am grateful for all of you. What I have learned this week is about the patience that Christ has with all of us, that He has had with me and not given up on me in these two years. I am starting to be a different person because of it. May we never give up on a worthy cause. Somewhere deep inside me the Lord saw someone who could be a good missionary, and He has been very patient with me and allowed me to become a better missionary; and will continue to be patient with me as long as my transformation process takes. I know that extends beyond the mission, so we have no reason to think that it stops right there.
Well family, I love you guys a lot. There wasn't much in this recording, but I love you. I love my Savior. I love this Gospel. I also love Colombia with all my heart. I am grateful for everything. Talk to you later then. Chao!
-Elder Lewis
So this week has gone really well. We started out the week with Elder Prestwich because Elder Gulla, the… how do you say it… the Filipino, went to Bucaramanga. We had transfers this last week and we were with him for the first part of the week and we enjoyed getting to know his investigators. Had a good time, I don't know what else to say about that haha. But then on, I think on Thursday, we went to the terminal to pick up his new companion who is actually DUN-DUN-DUN-DUUUUUN! (fanfare sound) Venezuelan. He is a Venezuelan that came over here, to Colombia, he went to Cali, which is a city in… well it's pretty dang far away from here. As I understand, it is one the west side of Colombia. He passed through Cucuta on his way there, so he already knows Cucuta pretty well haha. So it was just funny. His name is Elder Mayér. And he is a good guy.
So then we got to work on our area uninterrupted for a couple of days and then one day, I think it was on Friday, or maybe Thursday, (even though I battled a migraine on Thursday and then going to the terminal doesn't help because it's so chaotic…) Cucuta's bus terminal is ridiculous. It's like that movie you've seen… I dunno. So chaotic. If you aren't careful, you're going to get run over. So that didn't help my migraine. Later that day, we were gonna go contact in an area called Panamericano. Our area is a series of like 3 hills. On the other side of one hill, if you stand on the top of the hill, you see the city of Ureña. Ureña is in Venezuela. Our area borders Venezuela, and there is a part down below called El Salado that we felt inspired to go to. It's right on the border with Venezuela. We went down and we knocked on a house, and nothing happened. We went to the next house and they said to come in. so we went in and shared a message with 6 people and we have had the determination to be more in touch with our investigators this week, more constantly, so that they can stay progressing. So we went back a couple of days later to see how they were and found that they had already been sharing it with their family and friends and coworkers. So it was really good. They are a really good family. We should have some good news with them. We are going to try to stay in contact with them every day. But as I have tried to keep in contact more with my investigators, I come to love them more. There are sometimes when you don't get around to seeing your investigators for like 3-4 days between appointments. So, you just need to hit them up with a call, or go see how they are, you just need to go be in contact with them. We have seen a lot of miracles from that. We have seen miracles from reading Preach My Gospel. But ya, we found the familia Puerto, like Puerto Rico.
Well, today for P-Day we went to a place called Calobos (?), and we played soccer. Then, half way through we started playing American Football, because Elder Wood brought his American Football, so we enjoyed a little game of two-hand-touch. It was fun! My companion was just about dying because he hadn't played football in a transfer, but he is alright. He is functioning again haha. He had a shot of football, so we're good. Haha.
I am very happy to be here in Aeropuerto. Very grateful to see the progress of our investigators, like we had another family, her name is Rosemarie, and his name is Luis, and they are kind of older, and they don't read very well, so we downloaded the Book of Mormon on my USB drive, and dropped it by their house. They have been listening to it non-stop for the last couple of days. So we are super excited about that. I am just so happy to be here. I just hope that President leaves me here for awhile. They made me District Leader again, which is a great opportunity, I was reminded how it was being a Zone Leader last night when I was making all the phone calls, when I was filling out the call-in reports, and I am really happy to be a District Leader because I learned a lot from being a Zone leader, but now I get to apply it with a smaller group of missionaries. So I am really excited about that. We are going to see what we can do.
Let's see… what else… Frank made an amazing dish the other day. It was funny because we got there a little early so that we could see him make it, and it was like pork with mango, with pepper and onion and just a ton of salsa. It was SO GOOD. I found out that he is actually not coming to the United States this year, because the missionary that baptized him invited him to go to Barranquilla to see the new temple dedicated here in December. So he is going to go do that in place of going to the United States. But he is going to come the next year is what he says. I guess we will save him a place at the table for Thanksgiving or something like that. I just know that it is his dream to see Christmas in the United States.
Well, that's all for my report today. I am grateful for you guys, I heard that the play was a hit, so congratulations with that, I know that makes a great difference in the lives of those kids. If nothing else, to see something well done through hard work and the effort. That's something that I really appreciate about my family, is that when they do things, they don't just do them halfway. I am trying to learn how to do that myself. What else can I tell you… I'm not sure what you guys want to hear from my recordings…I don't know if I am telling you what you want to hear or whether I am missing the mark completely, so tell me. I am grateful for all of you. What I have learned this week is about the patience that Christ has with all of us, that He has had with me and not given up on me in these two years. I am starting to be a different person because of it. May we never give up on a worthy cause. Somewhere deep inside me the Lord saw someone who could be a good missionary, and He has been very patient with me and allowed me to become a better missionary; and will continue to be patient with me as long as my transformation process takes. I know that extends beyond the mission, so we have no reason to think that it stops right there.
Well family, I love you guys a lot. There wasn't much in this recording, but I love you. I love my Savior. I love this Gospel. I also love Colombia with all my heart. I am grateful for everything. Talk to you later then. Chao!
-Elder Lewis
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