Christmas 2009

December 28, 2009
Hola fam,
It was another good week here in Barranca. It was very nice to talk to everyone and see y'all on the webcam also. I was actually a little surprised because everyone looks about the same (except the kids who have all grown a TON). Although it was very nice to talk to everyone I felt awkward trying to talk well. It’s a lot easier to write things in English and I can see how the RMs feel when they get back and can barely give their homecoming talk. (Will has a really cute accent when he speaks in English now).
Buuut anyway it has been another good week, we have found a few more good investigators and had a good Christmas and Christmas eve. For Christmas eve we got together with the other Elders and some members in the other branch and made a big old, mostly American style Christmas dinner. We had a load of mashed taters ‘n gravy, some stuffed chicken, brownies and ice cream. We ate and chatted with the members until the missionary curfew (9 30) and then headed to the apartment. The other Elders came to stay the night there so it was the 6 of us. We talked and hung around and then read the Christmas story from the Bible like a good family and opened our stockings from Mom. The Elders were mostly excited to eat all the chocolates and mom’s caramels were a big hit. Then we watched a few Christmas eve fireworks and got to bed.

Christmas morning we got up and went over to David and Shirleys because Elder Williams had other presents there for us.. Apparently, he has a really rich uncle so he sent us all remote control cars. Haha not exactly the usual missionary gift but we had a great time driving them around outside their house and chasing a few dogs away. We actually spent most of the day with them just talking about Christmas traditions etc. We left in the afternoon to do some visits but found absolutely no one the whole night so we ended up buying some frozen yogurt and heading back to plan. My companion and I set some really good goals to make sure we start off the year great and accomplish as much as possible.

Sunday was a very good day for the branch. We got there early and first thing a sister who had been inactive requested an interview. The Lord is blessing me incredibly and with his help I have been able to do the things I have been asked. Sunday meetings went very well. We had 50 people in church this time which is the most we have had since our first week and I can see the members gaining excitement for the work here. Just the simple act of having someone who greets them or talks to them about their life makes such a difference and we really are starting to gain the confidence of the members. In sacrament meeting I was asked to bless a baby... which I had no idea how to do, but I pulled out my faithful missionary handbook, followed the instructions and it went well. Also 2 kids advanced in the priesthood so I announced it in sacrament meeting and then ordained them in the second class. We also talked and prayed and decided who to call as the ward mission leader so I extended the call to him and we will set him apart next week. We will be re-organizing some of the auxiliaries during the next few weeks which will give some more people the chance to serve and have part in the branch. I’ve been advancing in the Leaders Manual that has all the little details and learning lots about how the church runs. I’ve got MLS (the church computer program) figured out which also is a big help and I am working on making lists with each neighborhood and all of the members that live there to start visiting them. I can also use these lists for home teaching etc. In less words, we’ve had lots to do in our little branch and we are very excited at the way things look to be going.
We don’t have as much time in the day as I would like. The missionary side is still a little difficult but we have some very good potential investigators and we have lots of ideas to do activities etc to find more. In the end our job is to help get brother B ready to be the man and run the ship. He is a great guy. His family is very, very humble but they always have us over for lunch on Sundays. He is at church every Sunday at 8 o clock to open up and make sure everything is ready. He has been a member for only 2 years and is learning so much. He and his wife are preparing to go to the temple and be sealed in January so we are encouraging them and I’m very happy for them.

Today was a nice lazy relaxing Pday. We basically just sat around and talked with Elder Jimenez and Zari. For lunch I made up the mashed potatoes and stuffing etc. that you sent. It turned out very well and it was the first time the others had eaten stuffing and they really liked it. I’m not sure what the plans will be for New Years but I am ready to get the holidays over with so we can get rid of the distractions and really get things going with the investigators.

BTW Dad that experience was amazing, I hope someday I can have something like that happen. Imagine the generations who will be members of the church and have the gospel because of that couple and the fact that you got to meet them. Amazing. (Will is referring to an experience that his Dad had in Calgary while visiting Will’s sister and son-in-law. He served a mission there years ago. This insert is how Will’s Dad described the experience).
“I hope this little miracle will help you see the big picture. In church yesterday as the First Councilor announced the program I realized that the final speaker was a man I knew. I taught and baptized him and his wife years ago. I hadn't talked to him in all that time. Turns out they have 8 children that are spread all over the US and Canada. They are active and happy and successful and he gave a great talk. Mom and I went up to meet him after and he hugged me and thanked me. We are going out to dinner and get the whole story. Of course their life has been theirs and they have done what they have done, but at least when my small part was to be played, I was there. It is a very good feeling. Now I am wondering about the other families and individuals that I worked with. But anyway, someday you will be able to look back and see that you were there and you did your part and it was good.”

I can’t believe I am going to start the last calendar year of my mission. I sometimes wish time would slow down but we learn as we go and I’m learning every day. I hope I’ve been able to progress and improve. I have gained a much stronger testimony and I know that we are in the truth. I wish more people would realize faster but if it were easy it wouldn’t be so good. Hope everyone has a happy new year and enjoys all the great things we have. 2010 should be awesome. TTY next week. Love Elder Barnard

Busy Branch Activities

December 22, 2009
Ola family!

The first week as branch president was very interesting. Here they planned to have 12 small Christmas devotionals in the church up to the 24th, each one organized by a different family or organization. They have turned out well and my comp and I have been there to conduct and make sure everything got opened and closed etc. This week with all of the branch activities and the travel etc. we didn’t get to work a ton in the area but we had a few lessons and like I said we are just looking for more ways to have some success here.

My first Sunday as a missionary/ branch president was also very interesting. If you thought Sundays were busy just being a missionary, you should try it as both. Lots of things to do and lots of ppl to talk to. Before church, one of the young men had requested to talk to me. It is really amazing how the Lord can inspire even dummies like me, to know what to say and what to do. Throughout the week I have been reading and studying the church leaders manual to get to know the little details etc. of what I need to do. We made sure to start Sacrament meeting right on time. There were only 10 people there to begin with. By the end of the meeting, there were 40 which is about average. I planned to speak about Christmas and gave myself the last spot. I had been planning and praying for most of the week and the Spirit really helped me. I think everyone felt the spirit so I feel really blessed for that. I talked about what the Savior’s birth really means and talked about how the joy of Christmas comes from giving. I shared the story about the Christmas orange of the boy in the orphanage. I also shared the experience of when mom and I did the 12 days of Christmas and secretly took gifts to a family when I was in elementary school.
After that a few members wanted to talk during class time including a sister who felt that she could no longer hold her calling to teach the youth class because there was no one to watch her baby. I also interviewed two young men to advance one to receive the priesthood and the other to be a teacher. I looked it up in the manual and relied on the spirit. Then for the third hour, we went to the young mens class who are having so many problems. I don’t know how we are going to get control of them yet. We continue to pray and look for ways.

One idea that I felt would help was to organize every member on the branch list into the neighborhoods they live in and then take time each day to visit every single one. It would be much more efficient to reach everyone that way. It may be the way to find part member families as well as less active members and bring them back. On the list of members there are 418 and only about 40 attend each week. Yes, that is less than 10 per cent. Last week we went, as the priesthood of the branch, to visit less active members and found a few who were excited to see us so it may be the best way to start turning things around.

Another thing I was thinking about was to put a chart on the bulletin board that shows the attendance week by week and get the members themselves excited about finding the lost sheep and little by little getting the chapel filled.

We traveled to Bucaramanga for a big Christmas super pday. Everyone got together and played sports all morning. All the missionaries from Bucaramanga, San Gil, Cucuta, Opal and Barrack got together. I spent a little time playing soccer and we actually got to play a little organized basketball with some of the other Americans which was a first in a long time and was fun. I got a little sun burn also but it was a good chance to relax and have a good time. After that everybody headed back to the different houses (apartments) to get cleaned up and changed and ready for the afternoon part. We watched a really cool movie called Emma, played some games, had a dinner and a Christmas devotional where the Stake Presidents from Bucaramanga spoke.
The Christmas pday yesterday was a very nice spiritual experience and a good chance to rest and get re energized. ah I forgot to tell you that we also had a Christmas dinner and President and Sister Hacking showed up as Santa Claus and his wife. They gave everyone little presents which was a funny sight. It really is nice to see Bucaramanga again. It’s amazing how you grow to love the places where you work and learn.

I’m sure Barrack will be just the same because I know if we just keep fighting we are going to make good things happen here. We will continue and try our best to help the members increase their own testimonies, bring back the ones who are lost and find new ones.

But anyway onto today. We left early from Bucaramanga yesterday. I took out that extra money you told me about and bought each Elder in the district some little presents. For dinner last night, my comp and I bought ingredients and made "completos." It’s a typical Chilean food so my comp was happy. It’s actually just hot dogs but with guacamole and tomatoes and very good.
Oh by the way, we moved out of the hotel and are living in Elder Jimenez and Zaris house. At least, it gives us the chance to study and have a kitchen etc but it’s all the way across town so we have to take taxis everyday. I wish we could just get a normal house by our area but that would be too easy for us haha. I can’t doubt that our purpose right now is to be tested so we just have to go and do what needs to be done.

Tomorrow I will be talking to you. I can’t believe that after this phone call I only have one left in May. (He has only 8 months left in the mission field) It’s hard to believe all that happened since I spoke to you the last time. I’m interested to see how well I can have a conversation in normal English. It’s sometimes confusing to talk without using any Spanish words because you get used to it. I love you fam, know that we are probably as or more blessed than anyone in the world. I will talk to you tomorrow. love ya and until tomorrow, chao. elder Barnard

Branch President Barnard

December 14, 2009
Hola Familia,
Well it’s been another week here in Barranca. The week in itself was actually kind of a strange week. I’ve got a cough and with grandma’s funeral and all, it was really hard not to think about the fam etc. and what was happening at home. I'm glad to hear the funeral went well and everyone is now safe and sound where they need to be. You guys should just take a day or two and rest up and recover physically and mentally because I am sure it was a stressful week and especially if you are sick just REST. But ok that’s the end of my family advice section.

So as I said it wasn’t the most focused week of missionary work in my life, but we just gotta keep on keeping on. We did have some good lessons and the Lord gave us a great blessing to cheer us up, a family of 5 who seems to be very ready to accept and live the gospel. Although they had a last minute thing (like all of our investigators again) they seem very good so we have high hopes. We seem to have found a good group of investigators to work with now so although we will continue finding new ones, we now have some good people to concentrate on.

They say that there is a package for me in Bogotá and they will mail it tomorrow so it may be a Christmas Package. Also unfortunately we are still in the good ole truck stop hotel. There was a 6´4 ish used to be man/ now woman who used to live in the room next to us that always said hi to us and he/she left this week which was good news :) It sounds like they are finally getting to the last part of the papers for our house, but what’s new.

That is true about the harmonica. I got hold of some music for a few church songs so I can play them and have figured out some other songs like home on the range. The other day at a baptism we, Elder Williams and I, played How Great Thou Art with guitar and harmonica, haha it wasn’t the greatest group ever but it turned out alright.

Today for Pday we did... nothing. The other Elders went with David and Shirley, the members who always help us out. They invited us over to the headquarters of the Oil Company to play sports etc. but I have been getting sick with that cough etc. so I decided it was smarter to just chill and get some rest.

Ok here is my crazy news. Elder Williams, a while ago, talked to President Hacking about the idea that the missionaries should have some leadership in the church here just to get things going in the right direction. Then this week after a priesthood meeting I felt the same thing so I called him and he said he already had it planned that we would be put in as councilors in the Branch Presidencies whenever the District President here got it all organized and decided what was best to do. So I was somewhat expecting that. Sunday morning we passed by to take a few investigators (2 families of 5 and 4) to church. Unfortunately like I said, they had last minute things come up. So as we headed for the church I got a call and it was President Camacho, President Hackings second counselor who covers Barranca. He asked if I would take long to get to the church and I told him we were very close so he said ok and that he would like to talk to me before sacrament meeting.

So I figured that what Pres Hacking had said was coming. So he invites us upstairs in the church house and has us sit down. He brings in the District President also and they start talking and the District President tells me that because the Branch President hasn’t been able to attend because of work, and because the branch needs help that they are going to release the Branch President. Then he called me to be the Branch President!?....... I was basically shocked. It had crossed my mind that we may get callings in the branch to help but I never expected this. Then he asked me what I thought about this new calling and I told him it was a complete shock but that I would go and do what the lord commanded and do my best. He then explained to us all the stuff about how the branch was struggling and the idea is that this would be a temporary thing (a few months). We would need to use the experience we have to help turn things around and help prepare Bro Benavides, the first councilor right now, to be a good branch president. Haha what experience are you talking about I’ve never done this. But the truth is I know we can help this little branch. At least my comp and I have had the blessings of growing up in the church and I have had the chance to work with Pt Hacking and Camargo so we know how things should be. Then, they had us go back down and start sacrament meeting.

During the second class they took us up and set us apart and conferred me the "keys". So at the end of the day I am the Branch President of Los Pinos and my companion is my second counselor. After church we had to organize all the tithing /offerings etc. which I have no idea how to do. Luckily Hno Benavides has been counselor for over a year so he knows how to do that part and my comp was the ward secretary at home so he also does. I also pulled aside the old Branch Pres for a minute after church just to tell him sorry if this happened as a surprise or he felt bad and that I was also very surprised and would need his help. He wasn’t mad at all and said that whatever questions I had, he was there. He really is a good guy but with his work he just never had time to do everything.

After lunch we headed back to the church and our "presidency office" to start reading manuals and looking at the MLS (church computer system) . The MLS manages everything from the money, to callings, to ward lists, to stats. Luckily my comp knows how to run it and I am pretty fast with computer stuff. There is a big old manual for Stake Presidencies and Bishoprics that has about everything you need to know - from how to bury people, to how to do interviews etc. I called president Hacking and he just told me to keep it as simple as I could and not get too worried about all the complex details. So I really don’t know what to think, I never expected anything like this on my mission. I already know I am going to delegate tons and use my counselor’s lots and do the best I can to help get this Branch turned around. As much of a surprise as it is, I know its going to be a huge learning experience and we already have so many ideas to get things improved here.

First we’re going to have all the meetings here (PEC, branch presidency, ward council etc) Also, I want to start giving assignments and callings because many people have nothing to do and there is a lot that needs to be done, which will help them be part of the branch. And the best thing is we are missionaries, we have all day, everyday so whatever we have to do we can. In the end the goal is to help prepare Hno Benavides to be a great Branch President and leave the branch with a good foundation and going in the right direction. So I'm going to have to get myself much more familiar with that manual. The hard thing for me to get my head around is things like interviews or personal problems that members have etc. So one thing I know is that I’m going to be calling President Hacking like crazy and praying really hard.

Pres Hacking also told us that it’s important that we find a balance, missionary work will be a little harder but we are still missionaries and we have to be teaching all that we can. Hopefully we can just keep things simple and strengthen every member and bring back those that have fallen away. I know that the Lord calls who the Lord qualifies and with weak and small things he brings to pass great things.

Well I am about out of time. Never a dull moment in the mission stuff. I love you all and you are in my prayers, especially lately, and I am really going to need to be in yours. I love you fam, you’re the best, please when you are sick, or stressed or whatever it may be, get some rest and remember the scriptures and prayer. Here goes nothing. Until next week. Elder B

Grandma Passed Away

December 7, 2009
Hola Mi Familia.
Well it’s been another week here in Barranca. Last night while we were in a lesson talking with a few people outside their house, I got a call from President Hacking. I asked the people to excuse me and answered him. He asked how I was and told me he had some news that might be a little bit hard for me. As soon as he said that, my imagination just took off running. I was thinking about all kinds of things and wondering what had happened, then he told me that in the morning my grandma Barnard had quietly passed away. He told me that it sounded like she was very proud of me. It was quite a shock because you don’t expect to hear something like that. I remember I visited with her and said goodbye the last time, the morning before we left for the MTC. Although you never know, I think we felt that it could be the last time I would see her in this part of the plan. It was hard to give her those last hugs. It is a sad thing to know that the whole family will be gathering to celebrate her life and I won’t be there and that I won’t get to talk to Grandma again. My whole childhood was filled with happy memories, playing with cousins at grandma’s house, old Thanksgivings and Christmases, family reunions and sleepovers. I remember as the mish got closer I had the chance to spend more time that summer visiting grandma and doing things like drive out to Arbys or Subway with her and BJ when you were gone. She always showed me a special love and I will really miss her. It was very tough last night and today to think about and realize that she is gone. But just the same, during the last years of her life I know she always wanted to do so much more than her body could. I also know she loved and missed grandpa B and they are now doing what it says in Alma 40.

... The spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life. And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow.

That’s the neat thing about what we know as the church of Christ. That grandma B was just taken back to the God that gave her life and is enjoying happiness, rest and peace. So while it’s hard for me to know I won’t get to talk to my good old grandma again, she is in "a better place" as they always say, and we will meet her again.

As far as Barranca, my son and I have just been working away and keep on fighting the sun and looking for Gods Elect. Haha let me tell you that they are hard to find here. This week, although not perfect, we worked out butts off. Lots of heat and looots of lessons and new investigators. The tough tough thing about Barranca is that everyone is down for whatever, so most anyone will let you in and show interest in the message, but when you set them a commitment like praying, reading or going to church no one does it. They are friendly and partiers but when it comes down to doing something or taking a step of their own, they don’t do it. This week, we taught 9 Lessons with Members Present (This is one strength of this area, there are some very good young men that are always willing to work with us), 18 other lessons and found 22 NEW INVESTIGATORS. I mean you never find 22 new investigators in a week. So we were pumped. For fast Sunday we fasted that we could get them to come to church along with the 18 we found last week. We spent Saturday visiting everyone, teaching about the Sabbath day, organizing how we would take some of them to church, calling and inviting all off them, even fasting. Sunday came and we set out very early to go and make sure some of the best ones were awake and remind them and it was amazing. We got there and they acted like they hardly even remembered promising they would go to church, some were sleeping, another said she didn’t want to wake her husband up to go because he would get mad, another family decided it would be better to pick weeds outside haha. So in the end, of the 40 new investigators we found in 2 weeks, 5 of them showed up to church and one of them after Sacrament Meeting.

To make things better we decided to send them to class with the members instead of doing the Gospel Principles class. The young men’s young women’s teacher wasn’t there so they asked us to teach them so we brought Roman, an investigator who is 15, also. The class members would not stop talking and yelling. It was the worst experience I have ever had in a church class, and our investigator left quickly after and wanted nothing to do with it.

But honestly at the end of the day, we are taught that effort is success and we are putting in our effort so I don’t feel bad or discouraged. It can be very frustrating but we are slowly picking out the people who really are looking for the truth. Also we continue doing all we can to get the branch excited. The Branch Pres didn’t come again, but we are bonding with the members and trying to build them up so that this branch does too. President Hacking is strongly considering putting missionaries in the Branch Presidencies here.

My comp and I are getting to be good friends and I really like working with him. Also I am going to have him teach me some Kung Fu because he is an expert.

It looks like we might FINALLY have a house after this week, but all we can do is work hard. I have faith that this little branch can grow. It’s not easy to completely change the momentum of something but that is our job right now and we can’t expect it to be an overnight thing. I know the Lord will help us and despite the challenges here I continue to love the mish. It’s such a simple life, you don’t have to worry about jobs or the economy or the government, you just work and improve. And we always make sure to get our fair share of having a good time in and joke around every night.

This will be a hard week for me, but I know it is best to keep working and doing what we can. Well I am out of time. I hope everything goes well this week, send my love and best wishes to all the fam. Love Elder B

Very Productive Week

November 30, 2009
HOLA FAMILIA!
Well it’s been another hot week here in Barranca. Unfortunately we are still living in the $22 a night hotel but we are not going to use that as an excuse to be less productive. This week was actually a very good week for us in the area. We dedicated ourselves, set some high goals and achieved almost all of them so I am feeling really good about the area. We gave surprise talks on Sunday in church; also we had a nice little Thanksgiving party and a Training session with all the church leaders of the district so it was a very good week.

By the suggestion of President Hacking, we fasted on Wednesday to be able to find a house or get the situation worked out. That same day, the counselor in the district presidency called and told us he found us a house. It was almost golden. It was in the perfect position between the two branches, it wasn’t with the renting agency that gave us so many problems but was a direct contract with a family who was moving out and it was cheaper. It wasn’t as nice as the hopefuls we had but it was enough and what we needed. We agreed with them we would have the contract by the next day and could be moving in today. We took all our papers, did the contract and just had to get the contract signed and emailed by a guy in the church offices in Bogotá. We emailed it in and it turned out that for some reason the guy wasn’t there for like 5 days. So in the end we couldn’t get it signed and they gave the house to different people… So “Pailas” as they say in Colombia (basically out of luck).

So we told president Hacking who is pretty tired of all this mess and he organized a meeting with the people from the church office today to see if we could get permission to look for … (I don’t know how to say it in English but its a person who signs that they will be responsible for the rent if the church can’t pay it). The general policy is that the church doesn’t do it but these rental agencies are sticklers for papers etc and they are requiring it. It was pretty ridiculous; we had some papers sent in about the Bogotá Temple just to show them that the church was a solid entity. It showed part of the payments to make the temple that summed up to about 9 million dollars. We took it (when I say we I mean the other missionaries because I was in my area) to them but the lady just said sorry but they needed people who could be responsible in case that we couldn’t pay. So I guess we will find out tonight what came out of Pres Hackings meeting but in the meantime we are stuck in the good old Hotel.

As far as the hotel we decided we weren’t going to let it be an excuse or reason to work less so we have been looking for ways to be more productive. One thing we have done is go to the church in the mornings to study there so that we can have tables etc. and a decent study area. Also, like I said this week we had high goals and we worked very hard and at least statistically we were able to reach them. We ended up with 10 lessons with a member present which is one of the highest I have had in any week of my mission. We also finished with 19 new investigators which is a record for my mission. The definition of New Investigator is someone who you teach for the first time and who accepts a specific date for you to return. The thing about Barranca is that you can find lots because they are very open but few really progress, so you have to be able to drop those that don’t and find the “Elect” who hear the Lords voice and don’t harden their hearts. Of these 19 people we were able to have 5 go to church and various others who couldn’t because of travel but promised to next week.

To make a long story short we got in contact with an investigator that I had in Bogotá a few months ago. We were teaching him and he even had a baptismal date but he happened to move to Barranca. Anyway one day he saw Elder Zara and called him over. They got his info and turns out that he lives in my area so last Monday we taught him and he committed to go to church again and was excited to be hearing the missionaries again. Sadly something happened and he didn’t show up but we have high hopes for him and with all the people we are finding I know some of them have to be elect. Like I said it’s tough but we want to help people gain a testimony of the church themselves so that they can be part of the building up here. But like dad used to say, we can’t chose what time we are given, but we can choose what we do with that time. So we just have to get our butts to work and get it done.

This week we got all the leadership together in the main chapel (Barranca has 2 house chapels and one real one) for a leadership training meeting by the missionaries. Each companionship took time to train about one subject and it turned out really well. It was such a blessing to be AP because I gained a lot of experience about doing such things. So we prepared a nice session about goals and got them involved and participating etc. and in the end I think they left very excited to put what we talked about in practice.

Also on Sunday the speakers weren’t there so as we were singing the sacrament hymn one of the young men ran back and told us they were asking us to speak. So I wrote down a few key points, took up my scriptures and talked for 12 minutes about prayer. I’ve learned that talks can be the same as lessons. You have an outline of what you want to talk about and you follow the spirit and look for ways to apply it to the listeners and keep them interested. In the end it turned out very well. Honestly I wouldn’t mind if we could speak every Sunday but I guess it’s good experience for all the members. So anyway this area definitely isn’t going to be easy to turn around but we hope to keep working hard and do just that.

Also this week was Thanksgiving as you know. There is a young couple here named David and Shirley (Great Spanish names right!) But anyway they love the missionaries so they help us out with everything and always invite us over for pday etc. We dedicated Thursday morning and lunch to do a little mini Thanksgiving with them. So Elder Williams and I hit up the grocery store and tried to find what we could to make a “Thanksgiving dinner.” David and Shirley got us some chicken (You can’t find much Turkey here) and for not knowing anything about cooking Elder Williams and I did a pretty good job of putting together the dinner. We made mashed potatoes and gravy, fruit salad and some corn. We were both surprised because it actually turned out good. Then we filled every body’s plates with mashed taters and gravy and corn, explained a little about why we celebrated Thanksgiving and then went around the circle and had everyone say what they were thankful for. It was a nice little emotional time. We really are incredibly blessed where we live.

In other random mission notes - I bought a harmonica a few weeks ago and I have been learning and figuring out a few songs in free time. I have realized here how cool it is to play instruments and be able to make music. I kick myself for fighting out of piano lessons and I have decided that when I finish I have to learn how to play piano and guitar.

Also today for Pday we went to a place that has a soccer /bball court that is covered and got some sports in with some of the young men. I wanted to play bball but we couldn’t find a pump so it was all soccer. I have actually grown to like soccer here and even watching it but as far as playing I am clueless. It is amazing how much you sweat here with all this heat and humidity so we were all drenched and after the losers (we won) had to buy pop for everyone so we enjoyed that.

All is going great with my son. He is funny. He has a good attitude and is always happy working. What I want to work on or help him learn is to be a leader, so I have to be reminding him to get himself ready etc. or else he just kind of wanders. I think it will come with time. He is awesome at Kung Fu and loves Asian culture and martial arts and is a great cook. His attitude is good and I’m glad he’s my son.

So anyway we’re off to start another week of work here. Hopefully we can fix this house situation but just the same we are going to work hard again this week and hopefully we can accomplish our goals and find the elect and help them find happiness and salvation. I love you all, I know the church is true and I know the book of Mormon is true, Have a good week and talk to ya next time. Elder B

Veery Hot Here

November 23, 2009
Hola Mi Familia,
It’s been another week here in Barranca. We’ve been sweating like crazy but working hard and looking for new investigators. This week was pretty rough because we are still living in this hotel a long ways from our area. The whole situation is frustrating because we have to spend a lot of time filling out papers and running around etc. to get the new apartments. Because of this we weren’t able to get as much done as I hoped until Saturday. But we had a few good days of work and found some solid new investigators.

Right now we have a really good investigator named Eduarda. She is a teacher at a High School here and she was very impressed that at such a young age we would dedicate ourselves to being missionaries so she invited us to go talk to her class. On Tuesday the 6 of us went. Haha she also invited a guy who was preparing to be a catholic priest. The point was basically for the kids to see people living spiritual lives and accomplishing goals etc. So first the priest talked about the problems of drugs with adolescents and then although we didn’t prepare anything we talked about goals (having a vision for your life and how following what our Father wants us to do we can be blessed). Then we had a session of q and a and explained about the church etc. Another thing I realized even more is how blessed we are. This school was in bad condition and there were very few resources for the kids to learn from. But it was a cool experience all in all.

President Hacking came to do a training session with the leaders here and interview us. He told us that if we had to just drop our work and basically focus on getting somewhere to live until we were set then to do it. My interview went great. He said he knew I would be doing fine and just to keep up the good work. After he took us all out to eat greasy fried chicken which was great. All in all I am really frustrated because we have so much to do in our area and for a lot of the week we just didn’t get the chance to do what we really wanted to.

On Friday not much progress was being made so I myself started calling the secretaries of the apartment places etc. and going to the place where they rent houses to get things taken care of. We finally got all the papers in and sent off. Tomorrow they will tell us if we are approved, I really hope so. The thing is that they ask for 2 people who will pay the rent if the church fails to do so and asks for the churches bank record, which the church never shows to anyone. haha In the end they sent it in with some documents that show that we own chapels in Bucaramanga and here, so hopefully that’s enough for the person who approves to let us make the contract. If it works out we will live 4 in one house (Elder Williams, Mura, my companion and I) and the other 2 in a different one in their area. So until that all gets sorted out we are still in this hotel far away.

We did have the first English Class and Ward Home evening on Fri and Sat. There were about 11 people at the English Class and 14 on Saturday and we tried to make sure that they were spiritual and fun at the same time. In English Class I taught them how to use pronouns etc and then we learned the Head Shoulders Knees and toes song. For the family home evening, we talked about the Book of Mormon and watched one of the CES Videos. We did an activity where each group had to read a part from The B of M and act it out. In the end it turned out well and I think it will move us towards building unity.

This Sunday 41 people came to church (although many were late) and the reverence was improved (Pres Hacking talked about that at his meeting). We only had one investigator due to the frustrations of this week. We have been making an effort to congratulate anyone who participates and welcome them and get to know everyone there. The strength of the branch is the youth. We have a solid group of young men and a few young women who are very active and want to work with us.

On Sunday we split up and I took one young man, my comp the other, and went off to do contacts and look for new people. It turned out great and we were able to get lots of contacts and find some new good potential investigators. The kids are about to have their school vacations so I am going to try and get some little name tags and start putting them to work every day with us so we can double up and get lots of lessons with members present. This week we’re gonna do everything we can to work consistently in our area despite the living problems and hopefully the contract for the new apartments works out.

Another cool thing that happened, in Bogotá we had an investigator named Asned, a 20 something year old guy who went to church a few times and was getting ready to be baptized, but he moved to Barranca. The other day Elder Zari ran into him and got his info so I called him and he remembered me and we are going to meet him tonight at the church for a lesson. So hopefully he is still interested. Cool coincidence So anyway these last few weeks have been rough because we’re limited and it’s made us get a little off track but were gonna do the best we can and start to get things changing around here.

It has been ridiculously hot this week. I think one of satans tricks is to make it hotter after lunch. Here they give us huge lunches and going out into the steaming sun with a very full stomach is not always an easy thing and makes you veeeery tired. Haha I sweat like crazy, I have started taking around a clean sock to wipe my face all the time but we drink lots of water and I don’t think I am losing a lot of weight.

We really are incredibly blessed; sometimes this work is a sacrifice. But I really loved a talk by Elder Holland that talks about how the atonement was such a sacrifice and if we really want to be called disciples of Christ we should be ready and willing to pass through a few challenges ourselves. Haha so whenever I find myself hot ’n sweaty and thirsty even at night I just think about how one day I will enjoy cool nights with a sweatshirt on with my fam or friends in the future, doing things like listening to country music, drinking a root beer, going for a drive, or a movie or a basketball game, maybe even with snow again. Haha but I'm not complaining, it is all worth it.

I am very happy where I am and what I’m doing .I know I’m where I should be and I really love it. I hope I am progressing as much as I want to. I learn everyday and my testimony has grown incredibly. I really know that we have the truth, and in the end that is what brings happiness. But I have to go, much love, take care and I will talk to ya next week.

November 16, 2009

These are all new Elders in Barranca

Will and his companion.

Querida Familia.
All is well in Barranca, it’s been a very interesting week here. My comp and I have been working very hard in the area and getting to know the branch etc. better every day. In our 2 Sundays we have had 53 and 40 people in the little church house, the branch is very weak but we have found some great members as well as some of the youth in the branch who are very faithful and strong in the church so we are using them a lot to help us teach etc. and help show us the area.
We worked very hard during the week and found 15 new investigators, had 12 who committed they would come to church and read the book of Mormon and when Sunday arrived, 1 showed up. I just need to remember that effort is success in this business and were gonna find the way to get these people to our church and strengthen this branch. It’s honestly a rough thing because you want people to come to church so bad so that they progress but I am almost afraid to let them see the church. Haha it would be easier if they could just know the missionaries, get baptized and then meet the other members. There is very little unity or friendship in the branch and the reverence has a lot to be desired.
But we are not here to look for problems, rather solutions. So we planned and announced Sunday that every Friday we will have English classes at the church and every other Saturday we will have branch activity nights to bring the members together, train them, help them become friends and help strengthen their testimonies.
This week President Hacking will be here to speak to the priesthood leaders of the district so hopefully that will help. Basically, there is a lot to do here, we’ve gotta make the church a place where people can feel the spirit and where there is love and at the same time bring new people in. No one said it would be easy, but we are going to do our best and enjoy it.
To make things better is our apartment. The rumor is that when they first rented it they never dedicated it, it has bad vibes. The water from the tap isn’t safe to drink and the entire week we have had on and off water. I have had to shower 2 days with a big bucket and a pitcher and we went 2 days without being able to flush the toilet or wash the dishes. So we were not able to follow the mission schedule.
We have been house hunting but they had a 4 day weekend so we can’t do anything until tomorrow. President Hacking called and we told him what was happening and he told us to get out. We got hotel rooms until we could finalize our new apartments. You don’t realize until you don’t have it just how much you can’t live without water. But President sent a good group of us here and we know it’s up to us to change things so we’ve just been doing the best we can and keep fighting.
Elder Williams and I could relate to driving around in our Chevy trucks and listening to country music. Haha he is a cool kid and we are the pioneer gringos here so we have been getting along great and it’s nice to relax and talk about sports or music etc. every once in a while.
This week it’s been in the 90’s most days, I actually feel like I am getting more used to the heat, honestly it just depends on your attitude. If you go out whining about how hot it is you will suffer but if you don’t worry about it, it’s just fine. The thing here is you really don’t ever get sun burnt. The humidity is the major drawback. There is no wind and the heat seems to come from the ground so you go under a tree or in shade and it doesn’t change haha. But Im doing fine, drinking lots of water and working hard.
My son is doing great. He hates sports even soccer and is a big time kung fu expert, so at least no one should mess with us. He has a good attitude and has no problems working hard. His only problem is that he loves Chile and compares every thing to Chile but we have been working on that and I’m sure he will get over it and get used to Colombia. He taught me how to make Chilean cheese empanadas so I will have to whip some up when I get home.
Moms Questions :
For laundry we rent a washer and hang up stuff on a line we have going across the apartment.
Every day here is short sleeve shirt and washable pants, I gave one pair to Elder Amador so I only have 2 left (possible Christmas present).
It doesn’t rain much honestly and I have yet to use my raincoat in the mission.
We have lunch every day except pday with members which is good and the food is similar to Bucaramanga. We have lots of stuff like Yucca and rice every day but I have no problems with the food. Breakfast is usually oatmeal or cereal or a sandwich.
Our area is humongous but we have been working in the part close to the chapel only, so we have only used a taxi twice so far.

It’s been all over the news that Chavez is telling Colombia to get ready for war and that the US is putting bases there to invade Venezuela and steal his oil. No one thinks he will do anything but he is buying tons of war stuff and they know he gives stuff to the farc which is no good but that’s life.
We all live in the same apartment but this week we should have our separate apartments finalized.
There are no bad mosquito problems. I could maybe use some insoles for one pair of my shoes.
For Christmas I think it'll be the same as last year as far as phone calls, maybe a day or two before.
The church is true. I’m out of time. I love you all. You’re in my prayers. I always want to remember that we are called to serve, not be served, and we are having a good time at it. Love Elder B

November 9, 2009

It is really hot here. Haha hola familia, it’s been a busy,busy week and I'm here settling in and working here in Barranca.
Last week we stayed around Bogotá until Thursday to help with the transfers because a big group was going home and a lot of work to do. Elder Zari and I were there helping with that. Elder Jimenez (a Zone Leader from Argentina) also stayed in his zone until Thursday to help show the new missionaries the area and my comp worked a few days in Bogotá so the 4 of us could go up together.

Everyone here in Barranca was changed except Elder Williams so we are all new here. We received the new missionaries at the office on Tuesday so I got to meet my son but I didn’t say anything to him about being his comp or anything.

We helped take trunkies to the airport so I got to say gbye to all of them and got to see Elder Corro off so it was cool. Thursday morning we got up early, met up at the office and headed to the Bus Terminal to catch a 9AM bus for Barranca. It was so sad to say goodbye to our converts and everyone after all the time I was there. It was definitely a cool experience and lots of memories and lessons learned but it was time to move on to another challenge.

My companion is named Elder Ravanales from Santiago Chile. His parents are converts so he has been a member all his life. He has a good heart and a good attitude. I think the whole week he heard everyone talk about how bad Barranca is etc. but I told him how excited I was to go there and how we were going to change things etc, and he was very excited and motivated. We got here at about 8:00 P.M. and Elder Williams and Mura were there with some young men to welcome us and get everything to the house in a few taxis. We were sure happy to see them. You could just feel the humidity right as we got off the bus and the heat, even at night. We got everything hauled up the stairs (4th floor apartment) and finished sweating like crazy. Then some members invited us to eat some pizza and talk for a while etc. Our house is a little outside the area to the south part of the city. We didn’t sleep well, (gotta get a little more used to the climate) all I put on my bed is the bottom sheet. We sleep with a fan on.

We got up, hit the park across the street for exercise and started our first day. It’s Elder Williams first time as DL so he is excited and working really hard. We had a mini district meeting and just talked about how we are going to change the image and feeling of Barranca and start the change that will continue for time to come. Elder Mura took us to our area for lunch and to eat with a few members.

To get to our area you leave the pure city part and follow a large road that is basically surrounded by a flat jungle area to our part of the city. Our area is gigantic. We spent some time looking for a few members. We were going to meet with the Branch Pres and his counselor that night so we went to the church but the Pres never showed up so we just talked to the counselor. He is a convert of 2 years; they are working on going to the temple in December to get sealed. You can tell he wants to do things but he just doesn’t know how and the attitude here is very negative, so we just tried to get him excited and told him we were going to work hard and help him in everything we could. Then we did contacts etc and got home dead tired. Tons of walking.

Sunday we were there at the Church House bright and early. It really is tiny, it is a 2 story house that the church rents and has a plaque on the outside with the church logo. The sacrament hall is tiny, it holds about 70 people if crammed tight. The pulpit is up front on the right side and there are a few normal chairs up front and a table for the sacrament. 53 people came which is more than they usually have but I can already see there is a lot to do. There are just lots of little things they don’t know like they gave the sacrament first to the priests, they did the announcements at the end, people don’t talk into the microphone so you can hardly hear and most of the people in the congregation are talking or looking around during the service. We asked for a minute to present ourselves and tell everyone how happy we were to be here and work with them etc. The Branch President couldn’t come because of work so we still don’t know him. My comp used to be the ward’s secretary at his home, so afterwards he helped teach the counselor how to run the church computer program etc. and then we had lunch at his house.

We spent the day Sunday getting to know the area, contacting, looking for members and investigators. Today for Pday we went to some members home from the other branch and cooked some brownies that Elder Williams had and hung out there for a little while and then went to the store to buy food etc.

What we have here is a very unique situation. My entire mission I have had pretty solid wards but here it’s going to require a lot of help on our part to improve this little branch. There are 4 active holders of the Melchizedek priesthood and 7 in total that are somewhat active plus one active sealed, complete family. Haha but we have tons of ideas and we have been completely working and will work like crazy. I am very, very tired.

The weather has been around 93 to 97 during the days and in the high 70s at night. The humidity is incredible and although we sweat a TON I can feel myself getting used to it and it’s really not as bad as they say. I have been trying to show my comp all the things that need to be done and how. We plan well every night and actualize the area book and are planning how to work with the members, strengthen the branch and get new converts. My comp, being new, doesn’t know all the lessons yet, so I do most of the talking but he is learning more everyday and I make sure he participates and practices. So I get to help with training my companion, starting from scratch with investigators and working to help this branch. We already have the whole week loaded with plans etc because there is so much to do. Our only problem is that we don’t have enough time.

But I see lots of potential in this little branch. There are big families we can bring back, leaders we can help strengthen and the people are receptive. We already have a few potential investigators. Haha I really am beat but we are going to continue working hard and I know the Lord will bless us with results. I have so much I could say but so little time. I think I have always been a hard worker in the mish, but this is the hardest I have ever worked and I am confident we can see things change here. Well out of time.

As far as Christmas packages etc. you don’t need to worry about it, whatever you decide to send I will love but if not it’s not a problem at all. Ha it’s going to be an interesting 100 degree, humid Christmas.
I really can feel an increased level of the spirit here. Getting to the apartment at night with sore legs and dead tired and thirsty but knowing you’ve given your best really is such a rewarding feeling. Hopefully we can get this area figured out so we can spend more time in lessons with investigators. I know we’re doing the Lords work and it’s going to be worth it in the end. I love you tons, thanks for everything, you’re in my prayers. Elder Barnard

November 2, 2009

Hola Familia!
Well it’s been another good week here in the mish. We finished up the last week of yet another transfer. We spent a lot of time in the office getting ready for the transfers etc but we did get to spend some time working in the area and we recently found an awesome investigator. His name is Ricardo and he is a single student at the university here and works in construction. He is 23 years old and has gained a strong testimony way fast. He, by himself, asked us if he could be baptized, came to church in a suit on Sunday and says if it’s possible he would love to serve a mission. The reason it’s so cool is because the church really needs future priesthood leaders and they are very hard to find. A future missionary or priesthood leader is a huge boost for the church. We really can tell he is an "Elect". Haha the sad thing is, I will not be here to see his baptism.

Last Monday after writing, we had our weekly meeting. President asked to talk to me for a minute. The church now recommends that each mission only keep an Elder for about 6 months as an AP. That way most of their mission can be spent proselyting. He told me that I was being released, which I have known for awhile would be happening. He told me how grateful he was and said I had done a great job as Assistant. He said Elder Corro and I were his "Dads". He also said that it was a much higher responsibility level because we got to organize and help show him, as a new Mission President, how certain things were done as he got used to it. He also said that as a very young AP, it was very difficult but that I really "stepped up to the plate" and did a great job and that it was time to go back into the field full time. It really has been quite an experience to be the AP. I remember when President Camargo told me. I was completely shocked and scared and I got to see a lot of personal progress as I grew and got used to it and gained confidence. Haha now that I feel like I have finally figured out good ways to do things I am getting shipped out. I think most stuff usually works like that. I learned even more that if the Lord asks you to do something, no matter how incapable you may feel, he provides the way. Getting to know and work personally with 2 great Mission Presidents has been a huge blessing, just being around and talking with them I have learned soooo many things. I have been given so many blessings and opportunities. They have helped me to humble myself and improve. I worked really hard and did my best so in the end I feel very happy with the effort I gave. The new AP is a really great South American Elder from Chile.

Anyway back to the story, President Hacking told me he wanted me to train a new missionary and he was going to put me in the area that needed the most help in the mission – BARRANCA!!! Haha I think I already explained Barrancas history. It is very, very, very, very, hot and humid, I mean it feels like you’re in a sauna. Over the years it came to be thought of as the Siberia of the mission or the Punishment area for missionaries. This made it lose almost all productivity. It has about 185,000 people and a district with 3 little branches. It is the Colombian home of petroleum so it is a very key place for the economy and has a gigantic refinery. Because of that in years past it was a target for the FARC but with the new President Uribe the guerilla has been almost eliminated and such emphasis has been put on Barranca that it is now a safe city. Honestly, ever since I went there for a few days to help out as an AP, I have felt so strongly inside that I would love to be transferred there and see what I could do but I never said anything to Pres, so when he told me, I was amazed and way excited. I know it is where I am supposed to be.

I will train a missionary from Chile named Elder Ravanales. His whole family are members of the church and from his papers he sounds like a great guy - we are ready to work miracles! It’s the second time that I will train in a new area but last time I was new and clueless and now I have 6 months of ideas and experience with mission presidents built up so I am pumped to get out and get to work and try to teach my son everything I can. We will be going to the Pinos Branch, of the three in Barranca it is the weakest. They have a House Chapel. I have heard the Branch President attends about half the time because of work and all the other problems a tiny isolated branch may have... I am way excited to get there and see what we can do. A few weeks ago Elder Williams was sent there. It’s amazing - he was the first American missionary in about 17 years to go there so I will be the second :) President is sending in very strong, obedient missionaries. Elder Williams is the new District Leader and he is amazing. Another one is Elder Zari who was the Financial Secretary and a way hard worker, one named Elder Mura (also a very hard worker) and me and my new son. I have loved being Assistant but I’m ready to leave the high life of airplanes, high rise offices and restaurants and get back on the front lines haha. Now it will be the life of rice every day for lunch, a struggling branch and 90++ degree heat and 90% humidity.

I am "stoked" as we say to get there and get to work side by side with my second son. It will probably be very difficult, it’s about as difficult of an assignment as there is in this mission but I think the 6 of us, with the Lord’s help, are going to make miracles happen and change the whole perspective of Barranca. My dream is to be sitting at home a few years down the line and see the news of the new Barrancabermeja Colombia Stake. It’s a long long ways away from happening but we hope to help start the process. Elder Zari and I will not go until Thursday or Friday so that we can help finish the transfers and then we will be off. Don’t worry it is safe. President Hacking wouldn’t send us there if it wasn’t, and as long as we are doing his work the Lord will look out for us.

Well I'm about out of time, it’s a huge blessing to have such a great family, thanks for all you do. You will all be in my prayers, thanks for everything, I’ll be writing you from Barranca next time! Chao, Elder Barnard

Out of town

HI,
I probably won't be able to post Will's letter for the next week or so because I'm heading out of town. As soon as I return, I'll get them on the blog.
Janine

October 26, 2009

Hola familia querida,
Well it has been a good very fast week. We dedicated the week to work with the Duitama Zone so we were there the whole week going on swaps with the missionaries. It is a unique zone in the mission because it is made up of about 4 small cities, each with a ward or 2 so it is more spread out. Each day from Wednesday to Saturday we traveled to one of the cities and spent the day working with the missionaries there. It was a tiring week because we traveled on bus to the next city each morning, worked like crazy with the missionaries to help them get excited and work hard and sleeping on a mattress on the floor every night... But we worked hard, had a great time getting out and trying to be examples and it was a good experience.

I worked the first day with Tunja (Elder Rodriguez and Saure). Then with Sogamoso (Elder Corro and Burns) it was cool to work with Elder Corro (his first AP companion) again, they are doing great and he is juuuust about to head home next week but still working hard. Then with Duitama. There was only one companionship there so we split up, me with one and Elder Gags with the other. I was with Elder Wagstaff from Salt Lake. We had a great time. If you think one 6'2" blonde gringo in a small Colombian town gets a lot of weird looks you should see 2 of them together. Haha but we worked hard and had a good day.

There was a ward talent show that night so we sang in a little missionary choir with them and they dragged me up to be part of the joke in one of the skits. Saturday and Sunday we worked in Barbosa. It is a little tiny town with a little branch. There is one missionary couple there (the Chapmans from Florida) and one companionship. Again we split up with the Elders, and then went to Church with them on Sunday. It was the first time I have been to church in a "House Chapel" which was interesting but it was cool to see the little branch and how it is growing. Then we took a bus back to Bogotá and here we are.

Well we are now in the last week of yet another transfer. This mission stuff goes way too fast. The usual limit of time someone spends in one area is 4 transfers which I will now have. Tonight we will have our meeting with President Hacking so I will probably find out what my future holds... Ha so we’ll see what happens. I will go and do.

Sorry this is a little short, I am loving life, I can’t believe how fast time goes. Much Love, Elder B

Computer Stolen

October 19, 2009
It has been a good busy week here. We had some good days of working in our own area and we spent a good amount of time preparing and participating in the big zone leaders meeting in Bucaramanga.

Monday and Tuesday we spent working and preparing all of the plans etc for the Zone Leaders Seminar. We finalized and made sure that the zone leaders had everything in Bucaramanga prepared and ready. We also spent a lot of time studying about the things we were going to discuss and preparing PowerPoint presentations and etc. It was a lot of preparation and planning but we got everything ready and headed out Wednesday at about noon on a flight for Bucaramanga.

We had a meeting with President and got all of the last little things ready for the Seminar. Meanwhile all the Zone Leaders from the other parts of the mission were on buses traveling to Bucaramanga. We got a good sleep Wednesday and were up bright and early to get over the chapel. We did a lot of delegating to the ZLs to get the church, food, housing etc prepared and then we made sure everything was alright. We started at 9 AM and I conducted the meeting. We divided it into three sessions.

The first session went from 9 to 11 30 in the sacrament room. It was cool because we gave several zone leaders some presentations to prepare which went really well. Sister Hacking also spoke a little and President, Elder Gags and I gave a presentation about how to prepare and carry out a meeting (knowing who presides, everything to prepare and what to do during and after etc). Then we had a nice lunch brought in by a member from Bucaramanga who does catering stuff. We then had the Second Session which was in one of the classes in the church. We used it all to talk about teaching skills and do practices of them. We took my camera and recorded some of the practices to review them after and see how we teach.

Then we had another break and had the third session which was up in the sacrament room. This is where the interesting part started. I went up to make sure our power point presentation was ready and presidents laptop was gone with all the cords and stuff left sitting there. I went to ask him if he had moved it and he hadn’t. Turned out that someone had left the gate outside open and someone had seen 2 teenagers come into the church but just figured they were members. So president’s laptop and my memory stick which were in it were stolen while we were in the other presentation. After a long unexpected time of looking around the whole chapel we started the last session. President was out reporting the theft and told us to go ahead and start our part.

Some of the Elders sang a special number and we started our presentation. The only problem is that the whole thing was with PowerPoint. So we just winged it and talked about service as leaders in the mission. It actually turned out very well, there was a great spirit and with all the "drama" of the stuff getting stolen and the unplanned mess, it turned out to be a great spiritual session.

So after all was said and done it was 8 o clock and we had finished the first "zone leaders seminar" It was a little stressing and we lost a few full nights sleep in the process but it was rewarding to see everything turn out well even if it all didn’t go as planned. The cool thing was that the idea to change things up and do the meeting was my idea a while ago and President Hacking basically just let me and my comp plan and prepare it all and it ended up going very well. It was fun to do.

We stayed that night and celebrated a little :) We went back and stayed at the apartment in Real de Minas where I started the mission. We stopped at Perro Luchos, the famous hot dog and hamburger stand in my old area that makes the biggest, cheesiest hot dogs and burgers the world has ever seen. We bought huge cheesy hot dogs and some pop, put on shorts and tee shirts and went up on the roof of the apartment. Then we put our feet up and enjoyed the greatest hot dogs ever and a cold pop looking over my old area and the skyline of the city in the warm Bucaramanga night air. Haha dramatic right? But the meeting was a cool experience and took up most of the whole week so I don’t have much more to write about.

We got to work the last few days in our area and we spent a ton of time knocking doors and looking for new investigators and we have been able to find some very good ones the last few days, so hopefully we can keep up the success we have been having in our area.

Today we got together and played soccer at one of the chapels that has a nice field. It was a good time but Elder Lee got hit pretty hard in the eye with the soccer ball and they had to take him to the clinic, so hopefully he is alright and nothing serious happened. I’ll check on him.

Time is flyyyying very fast, the weeks seem like days but I am having a great time and trying to do the best I can. This week we should be out on swaps with other missionaries all week, and then the same thing next week and we will already be at the transfers, yikes. But all is well, I love you. Best wishes to everyone from Canada to Kansas to wherever else.
Hasta next week, Elder B

October 12, 2009

October 12, 2009
Hooooola Familia,
Well it has been another very good week. We are working extra hard to have ideal mornings like we talked about in the Zone Conference and it has been very rewarding and has led to very good days. Things are going great with my comp and with the work. Elder Larsen (Texas) who is also from my mtc group, was called to be the new financial secretary and start his training. So he is now living with us in our apartment which makes things quite crowded again (he sleeps on a mattress between our beds) but it’s another buddy from our mtc group in the house and we are having a good time.

This week we had the last 2 zone conferences, somewhat of an adventure with them, some good days of work in the area, and some preparation for the big zone leader seminar. The zone conferences in Bucaramanga and Cucuta went well, we did the activities about goal setting and the “ideal morning” with the movie and everything and everyone seemed to like it and left excited to work. We did do the Bucaramanga Conference in Real de Minas in the chapel where I started the mission so that was cool.
.
Back in Bogotá we had some good days of working in our area and we think we have found some really good investigators who are progressing. Saturday we had another baptism, it was a girl named Alejandra. Her mom was baptized in another ward a few months ago but now they live here and she wanted to join the church also. It was actually very easy, she just kind of showed up and said she wanted to be baptized, of course as missionaries are thrilled when people do that so we were glad to help :)

The last few days we have been doing everything to prepare for the big zone leader seminar this week. Every month we have what is called a zone leader council where all the ZLs gather in Bogotá and we have a meeting and a temple session. We decided it was time to change things up and do something bigger and cooler so we have prepared the first ever "zone leader seminar". All the ZLs and secretaries and us will travel to Bucaramanga, the promised land, and have a big all day meeting. It will go from 9 AM to 4 PM with a movie activity after, being divided in 3 sessions and with a lunch being brought in. We have assigned different missionaries to talk about special things outside what we always hear based on their talents or characteristics. One missionary who is really creative and tries all kinds of things will give a short presentation about creativity in missionary work, another will talk about enjoying your time as a missionary and another companionship will talk about unity outside of the lessons. President Hacking will also have various training sessions. Elder Gags and I will have about 3 hours worth of training stuff and activities divided up. We have planned the first session in the sacrament room with all the presentations of the zone leaders and then me, my comp and President doing a presentation about how to prepare and organize a meeting. (Because of the problems in organization with a few conferences and to prepare for future leadership in the church). Then we will eat lunch and do the second session in one of the big classrooms where we will talk all about teaching skills and do a bunch of filmed practices and situations with the different teaching skills. Then we will have another break and go back to the sacrament room for the third session which will be a little more spiritual, My comp and I will talk about the importance of service in our calling and as leaders and President will end with his last presentation. And then after that and another break time everyone will watch a nice movie. Not something from the church but a good clean movie like Remember the Titans or something to relax us a little and get excited to go get to work again. We are going to be very busy preparing everything but we have delegated a lot to the zone leaders of Bucaramanga to prepare. Anyway it should be awesome and it was my idea a while ago so I am excited to see how it turns out.
The time is passing incredibly fast, we are now half way through another transfer and the days continue flying. I have been working and trying extra hard to be a good example this last week or two and it really has been rewarding, although tiring, to put in more effort and feel the spirit that it brings.

If you remember Barranca, last week President sent the first American there (Elder Williams), so the times have changed... who knows what could happen with me haha I think that Barranca would be a fantastic challenge. The whole mission seems to know I have 4 transfers here as AP now, so people keep asking where Pres. is going to send me or who will be my replacement. Honestly we have been working so hard lately and I think I am just figuring out how to get the most done in this position and have big ideas for the mission BUT I also have tons of ideas and new things learned that I would love to put in practice as a proselyting missionary... so at the end of the day I will be happy with whatever happens.

But anyway thanks for everything, for your support and love and all the sacrifices you make to help me and others. When you are in the service of your neighbor you are only in the service of God. With the new challenge to read the book of Mormon again in our native language, my testimony of it has continued to grow, it really can explain what is happening in our world better than any daily newspaper can and every time I read I learn something new and see the application it has to my daily life. Hope everything keeps going well, the pics were awesome, and the kids are big! Till Next Week, Elder B

Loved Conference

October 5, 2009
¡Q´Huuubo familia!
Well it’s been another good busy week. We had the first 3 Zone Conferences and they went very, very well. Also the work continues in our area and we have some good investigators but we need to find more. General Conference was great, I really learned a ton and it was great to hear what the General Authorities had prepared for us. Also today was a good pday so all is very well.
Wednesday, Tuesday and Thursday we had the first 3 Zone Conferences of the 5 that we have every transfer and they all went very well. Sister Hacking talked about keeping the apartments clean and gave some tips on how to better take care of money by being smart in food shopping. She gave suggestions like ramen noodles, sandwiches etc. Elder Gags (his name really is Gagliardi but no one wants to say that) and I prepared and talked first about the new goal setting system we created based of PMG and explained exactly how it was going to work. We actually started it about a month ago with the zone leaders in the zone leader council. We reviewed and explained everything. Then we talked about goals and their benefits etc. President Hacking talked first for a while about money because lots of missionaries are not managing their money well and ending up without. He then talked about the Book of Mormon and it’s importance and power and he implemented a challenge in the mission for everyone to start right now and read it from Cover to cover whether it be your first or 50th time, and every time you read, to start with Moroni 10:4-5 and pray to receive a stronger testimony about it.
Knowing that President was going to talk about that, we then talked about how important mornings are in the mission and how we can take advantage of them. Haha it was great, using my camera we made a video called "the ideal morning" with Elder Zari and Smith (the two secretaries who live with us). We used lots of different and changing camera angles so it actually looked cool. Afterwards, I got on one of the office computers and got to use what I learned in that video editing class I took. I made it nice with music and titles etc. It started off with a nice piano version of "Joseph Smith’s First Prayer" and it shows Elder Zari getting up before 6 30, praying, doing his exercise and studying obediently and on time. Then the music stops and changes to a rock version of "Do What is Right" that we found. It shows Elder Smith hit his alarm at 6 30, get up at 7 30 with food and stuff all over his bed, play games on his phone instead of exercising and look at pictures of his girlfriend instead of studying. Haha it cracked everyone up but I think it was a good way to show what should happen and what sometimes does. Then we talked about the importance of a good morning and a good study time and how it will help us throughout the whole day. Now this week we will be going to Cucuta and Bucaramanga to do the last 2 Zone Conferences so hopefully they go as well as these ones. Everyday, working with the other missionaries and President, I learn so many things and lessons but those mostly go in my study journal.
Things are going well in our area. The Diaz family is doing great, not to mention that the mom is a professional chef and she very frequently invites us over to eat :) ... We have a few good investigators that we are working with now but they have some big challenges like marriage problems and word of wisdom probs but we are trying and praying for ways to help them and hopefully they can progress.
The conference was awesome. haha Its hard to believe that a few short years ago mom had to drag me out of bed to make me watch it, and now I find myself looking forward to every session. We went to the stake center of the Bogotá stake to watch so all of the members from Tierra Linda were there which was very cool. That ward really was awesome and way strong and had great members. It was great to see and talk to some of them and see how they were doing. Also ALL of the people I found that were baptized were there; it was so awesome to see them all. One sister is now the secretary in the Relief Society and is preparing for her patriarchal blessing. Another one they say is getting ready to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood. The biggest surprise was a little boy named Julian. When we first started teaching him he said his mom would probably not let him go to church because she was very catholic. We later visited her in their home and she told us she was very Catholic but we had fasted and prayed for them and we presented her with "For the Strength of Youth" and told her about all the good things Julian would learn in the church. Anyway after that she allowed him to progress but told us she was born and would die Catholic. We continued working and praying for them and my last week there we were getting Julian ready for his baptism and she had agreed to come to church. So long story short she felt the spirit and she and the other 4 children were baptized and this Sunday at conference they all walked in (Julian and his bros with white shirts and ties and the mom and sister with dresses). Julian ran over a gave me a hug and his mom just came over and shook my head and told me "muchisimas gracias por ayudar mi familia" I talked to the ward mission leader and he said the ward is taking great care of them and making sure they feel welcome and keep progressing, it was so awesome.
But also awesome was the conference, there were too many great talks to mention but if you missed Elder Holland talking about the Book of Mormon you should look on the Internet because it was intense. President Monson's talks in priesthood and Sunday were also amazing. I thought I saw a real tendency this conference for talks about personal testimony development and having more of the spirit. The cool thing is that 2 weeks ago when we established what we would talk about in the Zone Conferences, President had come to the conclusion that was exactly what he would talk about and that he was going to do this book of Mormon challenge because he wanted the missionaries to gain stronger testimonies and have more of the spirit. Maybe it’s just because that’s what I was thinking about but I really believe that God knows what he wants us to hear and our Mission President was inspired with the same idea that the general authorities were inspired with before he even knew what that had planned... another testimony builder.
Ha I realized sometimes my letters make it sound like life is perfect and the mission is a 24 / 7 joy ride. Honestly sometimes the same day to day schedule can make things feel a little dry or repetitive and of course there are always challenging days or times where it feels like a struggle. But I realize as I end every day or week that the great experiences we have are so many more than the challenges and how worth it, it is. Especially when I write my letters and start to think about all that has happened during the week I realize how much I am learning and all the good things that happen to me or blessings I have.
Today we had a good P day. We played basketball and soccer with our district, I am pretty rusty but I can still basically dunk and I made a few threes. Then it was my turn to get taught a lesson with the Latins in soccer. Haha I really can’t handle the ball but I can run with them and once in a while I get set up for a lucky goal or two. Soccer is life down here as far as sports and when Colombia plays and scores a goal you can basically hear the entire city scream wherever you are in the street. This weekend Chile plays Colombia in Medellin (Colombia) and if we don’t win there is no hope left for the world cup so it should be pretty intense around here.
But anyway I have had a little more time to write today but my hour is about up now. Thanks again for everything. I love you and you’re in my prayers, thanks for the letters and be safe and be of good cheer. Bubbye. Elder Barnard

Closing some areas

Our daughter Angie gave birth to a beautiful baby girl on September 23. She seems to be a very healthy and content baby. Her daddy, Ben has started chemotherapy for stage 4 Lymphoma. He will continue every other week for 6 courses and then 4 times a year for 2 years after that. We keep praying that everything will be okay. I'm here in Kansas helping out and it has been a busy week.

September 28, 2009
hoooola familia,
All is well here in Bogota. We had another busy transfer week but it was much smoother and simpler than the last one. Almost everything went well. We had the arrival of the new missionaries (from Peru and Bolivia) with the orientation we give, their welcome meal and then shipping them off to their areas. We had the farewells for the "trunkies" so we had to make sure they got into Bogotá, had their goodbye meeting and dinner and then coordinated everything for them to get to the airport and head home.

The only problem we had was a few missionaries and tardiness. There was a group of 4 that had to go home on a night flight so they had the day free but they knew they were to be in the office at 5 P.M. to get to the airport on time. Two of them were there but the other two were not so we had to leave without them. That got back to the office at 6:15 P.M. and called me asking what they should do... The only thing they could do was to take a taxi to the airport as fast as possible. Unfortunately, they got there too late and missed their flight The mission home had to pay 200 American dollars to get them switched to another airline on a flight 3 hours later. I imagine that was nerve wracking for their families at the airport. Apparently, their stakes will have to pay the money for them being late. But other than that all went smooth and we were able to handle things well.

Things are still going great in the area. We had 2 more baptisms (Noralba and Natalia) A mom and her daughter. We found them a long time ago with Elder Amador way up on the mountain and their progression process has been very slow but they got to the point where they were ready and they were very happy. We held the baptism Saturday morning and there was a good turnout and a great spirit. After the baptism we had lunch with an American family from Virginia with some nice spaghetti and french bread. Then we ran to the airport for a flight to ...... Barranca.

This week was district conference in Barranca so we went with President to attend it. Barranca is one of the most famous cities in the mission because of the climate. It has like 200,000 people and a district with 3 branches. The average temperature is close to 100 degrees and it averages like 85% humidity. Haha not joking it feels like walking around in a sauna and you drip sweat just standing there. It is like the center of oil production in Colombia and has a huge refinery. It has gained the reputation of being like the Siberia of the mission. President Hacking is working hard to change that perception and send hard working missionaries because despite the climate and a little bit of a rough history with the FARC a while ago, the people are very receptive and they could really use the gospel. So we had a good chance to meet members and work with the missionaries there. President even surprise asked us during the priesthood meeting and the conference to talk for a few minutes, but it was cool and we took advantage to put in a good word about working with the missionaries etc. American missionaries haven’t been there for a long time and the little district needs help but there are some great families that do all they can there. Despite the killer climate I really would love to work there. I think with a good attitude and some desire, someone could do amazing things there to build up the branches.

After a long time without them, it is now time to start getting ready for zone conferences and the zone leader meeting. We are going to have the meeting in Bucaramanga this time. We have been talking a lot with Pres etc and we are going to make it a super zone leader council. It is going to be an all day thing, everyone is going to travel in and we will do tons of practices and discussions and trainings etc ... so that will take a lot of preparation but I am very excited. Plus I love Bucaramanga like my home which is also good.

Elder Gags (Gagliardi) and I have set and are working with goals to always work harder and improve but we really are having a good time. We work very hard but we never forget to joke around and enjoy this great time of our lives so things are going great.

As far as the mission, right now we’re down to 149 missionaries and dropping. I guess the church is now into India and other places so they are sending lots to other parts of the world and our numbers are going to drop to about 132! Which means closing 11 total areas. This transfer we had to close 3 and it’s just going to keep dropping.

Elder Corro goes home this transfer, in November. He is training in Sogamoso and doing an amazing job with his son so I am happy for him. One blessing of being assistant has been having great companions. Elder Corro was awesome and I learned a ton from him and so is Elder Gagliardi. He is a great person and a great missionary and I am learning a ton from him to.

Oh by the way, President Hacking called me right away when he got the email about Annaleigh! That’s Awesome!!! The pics look very cute but what surprised me even more was little Caroline. I can’t believe how much she has changed since I last saw her. But hope all is going well with health etc as far as Ben, the new baby and Angie. All I can do from here is pray and try to do my best. But the family everywhere from Calgary to Kansas to Wyoming is on my mind and in my prayers. So thanks for everything again, gotta run, love you, I know the church is true . Elder Barnard

Transfer Week Again

September 21, 2009
Hooola familia,
It’s been another great week. I got to travel and do swaps with some missionaries, things keep going great in the area and we are about to start another infamous transfer week.

Tuesday thru Friday I spent in the Yopal District. Yopal is a city here in the mission of about 60,000 people. It is a little isolated from the other main parts of the mission and the highway going there isn’t safe so everyone goes by plane. I spent the first 2 days in Yopal which has a very strong branch of the church and 2 companionships. We had a great day and we set goals to serve more in the companionship.

The next day I left with a great missionary who was a Zone Leader for a long time and is now training for the first time. His comp. is an American (Elder Naumu) who is very new and is still learning the language, but they are both very excited and working great.
Aaaaand the last day I traveled about an hour outside of Yopal to "Aguazul," It’s the newest branch in the mission. It’s in a little town of a few thousand and was officially organized just a few months ago. Working there is Elder Torres and Elder Huanio. First of all Aguazul was awesome. After so long in bustling cities it was nice to see calm, quiet streets and things like big fields and cows (made me remember home a little). It was great because both Elders were veery excited about their area and they have people preparing for baptismal dates every week for the next month. It was cool to meet the members of the new little branch and see how excited they were about the church. They are pioneers there and almost all new converts, so the missionaries play a big part in running the branch. It is growing quickly and gaining momentum. Overall it was a great trip.

The purpose of working with all the other missionaries is to be an example of what should be done and all the things we are implementing in the mission so I always focus on that and try to get the missionaries excited and serve them haha. I think I end up learning probably more than they do, so I love getting out and working with them.

Saturday was also a great day. We had the baptisms of Lily, Bridgette and Angie. A little American girl from the ward also got baptized so we coordinated the baptism with the family and did it about half English and half Spanish. It turned out great and they were all very very happy. I baptized Lily (the mom) Elder Zari baptized Angie (The older sister) and brother Barrero (the ward member that helped befriend them) baptized Bridgette (the youngest daughter). The baptism was very spiritual. Lots of members came and Sunday after being confirmed, Bridgette wanted to share her testimony in sacrament meeting and she talked about how happy she was that God guided the missionaries to them and that they could enter into the true church. It really was a miracle how we found them like I told you. We were just walking down the street and Elder Zari said something like "I've always wanted to knock on doors in there, let’s go try". From there they invited us in and we taught part of the first lesson and about a month later they are now members of the church.... awesome.


After church yesterday we had 2 more people receive their baptism interview and they will be baptized next Sunday morning. They have accepted and kept every commitment we have left and their only doubt about baptism was if we could still visit them after :). It is a mom and her daughter named Noralba and Natalia. Elder Amador found them a long time ago and they showed much interest but we just couldn’t get them to go to church. Just as we were about to stop visiting them something happened, they felt the spirit and made the sacrifice to go to church. Since then they have progressed slowly but surely and they are now ready so we are very happy for them and excited about it.

Saturday and Sunday we spent with President Hacking helping him a little to decide all the transfers. When we got there he had already done most all of them and then we just gave a few suggestions and explained a little about some missionaries he didn’t know well yet. There were a lot of transfers again (not as many as last time but a bunch). Last night we made the calls to all the Zone Leaders for them to announce everything to the mission. Many were very happy, others called today complaining, but that’s life.

We really got to see President Hacking receive revelation about certain transfers as we were talking and moving faces around on the projector and I know the way they turned out was the way the Lord wants them to be. We have an internet program from the church that has all the missionaries pictures organized into their areas and zones with info. etc, so we set up a projector in his office and use that. So this week we will be busy organizing all that business like every transfer week but it’s all good and I think it will go great.

So that means ANOTHER transfer is starting. Time is flying, I now have over 13 months! I have 3 transfers as Assistant or approximately 4 months. I wouldn’t be surprised if this is the last transfer I am here but I also wouldn’t be surprised if I stay here longer. It just depends on President and The Lord. The Church recommends that you be an Assistant for no longer than 6 months. I have thought about it a little and I will be very happy whatever happens. I love what I am doing now and getting a chance to learn about leadership but if he sent me tomorrow to be junior companion anywhere in the mission I would be just as happy and keep enjoying the mission just as much. I have so much joy in being a missionary and I will be grateful to go and serve wherever he wants me to.

I have set new goals to make this transfer better and keep progressing. The church version of the Spanish Bible just barely got released so I am putting some serious study time into the Gospels and learning a lot.

Today we played soccer which was fun, everything is going great and I hope everything goes well with all the travel, with Ben’s health etc. and all the business that life has. You will stay in my prayers and thanks for everything, Much Love Elder B

San Gil is Great

September 14, 2009
Hola querida familia,
This week has been another good one. I spent the week away from Bogotá in Bucaramanga and San Gil. I can’t believe how fast the weeks are passing, it seems again like I wake up one day and its Thursday and the next morning its Monday again. Last Monday after we wrote, we flew up to Bucaramanga.

I got there and was going to go on splits with the zone leaders etc. but we found out that Elder Williams (who got his appendix taken out was going to have to spend over a week in bed. It's a good thing that he made it to Bucaramanga before it happened. He is in a little old town called San Gil that’s about 2 hours away from Bucaramanga. We spent the first day in the house with him etc. and then we decided that I could go back to San Gil with his comp (Elder Butron) until Friday at least so that we could help keep his area up.

Anyway, we took the winding bus ride to little old San Gil on Wednesday to spend some time working there. It has about 40,000 people and a little solitary branch. Actually they have been having lots of problems with the branch and some of its leaders doing things like asking converts for money etc. so President Hacking also went to do interviews. The town is shaped like a V... there is a river that crosses thru the middle and the rest is just hills going up from either side. You get tired pretty quick climbing the hills everywhere. It’s got the Spanish design with their type of buildings and only tiny little streets. It’s an amazingly cool place.

One crazy story from San Gil, they explained to me is about a strange family that lives up out of town on a farm. I guess they had tons of money but now they are completely poor. They have lost everything and just live alone up on their farm. One of the little girls has claimed to see spirits and stuff and the people seriously just look like the walking dead. They asked us to visit them and say a prayer or a blessing for the home. It was seriously crazy. We went to see them and they are all losing their teeth, they are completely pale even the little kids. They just slowly walk around like zombies. It is so sad. We shared a message with them, said a prayer and blessed the house and got out.. We had a good time working in San Gil, taught some good lessons and it was a great all around experience.

Also, the Jensen’s were traveling to Bogotá so they asked if we could go and teach at the little university where they volunteer teaching English. So we went with Elder Butron and followed their lesson plan and it went well. It was a little weird because the class only had 8 students and they were all college girls between 18 and 21. We told them about the church etc and practiced English and the missionaries should be visiting them this coming week.

Friday, yes September the 11th, I took a flight back to Bogotá. On the airport TV I saw the clips of some tributes and stuff they did in the States and also a clip of Obama talking and then a senator called him a liar. Ha I guess I am glad I don’t know anything that is going on there. It’s a little scary. The only thing you hear around here is that the US is thinking about putting military bases here and all the other South American countries are freaking out about it, especially Venezuela.

But anyway returning to the work here, everything is going great in our area. The Diaz Family (the ones Zari and I found by randomly knocking on one door that we felt good about) are progressing amazingly. We have been taking an awesome member family, the Barrios, to every lesson and they have become great friends and helped them a ton with everything. This week we taught the Word of Wisdom and Law of Chastity and they accepted them right them away, it was amazing. I was a little nervous because the mom (Lily) used to drink tons of coffee, but she completely agreed with it and has stopped drinking coffee. She also tells about how her family and coworkers have been trying to tell her bad things about the church and stuff like "are you sure you want to do this? this isn’t like you Lily" and she just tells them that she can feel that it’s right and she knows it’s what she and her children need. It really has been amazing how quickly they have gained testimonies and how strong they are. Yesterday they all came to church with their dresses on etc. and after they had their baptism interviews and all passed. They are way excited for their baptism this Saturday. A little girl from the ward is also getting baptized so we are planning it all together and it should be an awesome service. I am so excited and happy for them, you really do grow to love your investigators. The little girl (Bridget) asked that Brother Barrero baptize her, the older sister (Angie) asked that Elder Zari baptize her and the mom Lily asked for me to baptize her. Also the 26th we should have 3 more people who I will write about next time cuz I am out of time.

But all is going great; I am loving every minute of it. It’s weird to think that I have spent more time here than I have left so I am just trying to enjoy every second. Thanks for Everything; you’re all in my prayers. Hope all goes well with the Chemo for Ben, and Happy BDAY AMY!!!! The church is true, I love you, Bye. Elder Barnard