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