Testimony

April 26, 2010
Dear Family,
Well it’s been another good old week here in Sogamoso, la capital de las vacas :) We are working well and this week we put lots of emphasis on finding and finding and finding and it went very well. The other area here got 2 extra missionaries so they divided it in two and now the 4 of them are working in that ward.

As far as good news this was actually a great Sunday. We had 6 investigators at church, and we have found some really good people. One is a 12 year old kid who the government just took from his parents because they have maharani problems. He is now living with his aunt who is a member in our ward. She called us over immediately to visit him so we are going to prepare him to be baptized.

Also, knocking doors we found a really cool couple. They aren’t married but that can be arranged and she went to church (Hewas working but really wants to go this Sunday) and said she loved it. They personally schedule when we will come back to visit and usually have food waiting. Haha last time they had us both a nice hot cup of coffee waiting. We didn’t want to be rude so we drank it... haha just kidding again. So it was a good chance to teach them the word of wisdom. They have a few problems with some of the substances but they really have a desire to know the truth and I know the Lord will answer their prayers and help them know it.

Today for P day we (this district) took a train and went to visit a little old pueblo (tiny town). There really was nothing to do but it was fun to ride the old clanky train and I got some cool pictures.

Well time is flying; it’s hard to believe I'm almost done. I really am trying to take advantage of every day and although clearly I’m not perfect I am trying hard. I was thinking the other day that maybe I don’t share my testimony enough in my letters. The other day at lunch we were talking to one member a little about sports and I told him how I loved basketball and my favorite team was the Jazz. He finished eating, went and got on the internet, came back and told me that they were tied with Denver in the playoff series and were going to play in Salt Lake that night at 8 30 (10 30 here). I remembered how much I LOVED watching bball and especially the jazz in the playoffs. But the jist of the story, that night at 10 30 as I was saying my night time prayer I realized that the game would be just starting and really I felt that I would rather be here in Sogamoso, Colombia saying a prayer than watching the greatest basketball game ever. Don’t get me wrong I was happy to hear that they won and I would like to hear how they do, but really there will be lots more NBA playoffs and this is a once in a lifetime thing.

I had a testimony before coming on the mission but as I have lived it and spent everyday serving the lord that testimony has become much deeper. I really have gotten to know Christ. I have felt his spirit at the times I was most scared or unsure or disappointed and I KNOW that he isn’t just an idea or some unimaginable thing but that he lives and I know that he loves us. I know that this is his church and even though we are so imperfect, he is perfect enough to lift us.

Thanks for all your support family, I love you. Happy birthday little ELLA (hehe Ella in Spanish means she) Congratulations Cameryn on the lead role. Well until next time, Elder Barnard

Plane Tickets for August 18, 2010

April 19, 2010
Querida Familia.
Well it’s been a great, spiritual week here in Sogamoso. We had interviews with President Hacking, some cool experiences and stake conference in our chapel.

We have been trying to do weekly fasts to get more of the spirit and for specific things to do for us and our investigators. This week it was very cool. I have gained a strong testimony of fasting and prayer and the spirit they can bring when you do them right. We had interviews with the president and we started fasting the day before, especially for our investigators. We got to the interviews with a very good spirit and they were great. President Hacking first talked to us together and then each one alone. Things have been good with my companion. President complimented me in the Interviews and really expressed confidence in me. He was so positive and told me he really trusted me and was thankful for what I was doing. It really is nice to have someone like your mission president be so supportive and encouraging. He is such a good man. It’s humbling and makes me want to improve.

The Stake Conference was in our chapel which was a great chance to invite friends and investigators. Unfortunately the Lopez family, who we committed to baptism all missed except one daughter. We have been very clear with them about the Sabbath Day and about gaining a testimony and they keep saying "of course, sure we want to go" We even had a very spiritual lesson with them and the mom admitted that she felt a special warm feeling but once again something "came up" on Sunday. I think we will teach them this week and let them know that we want to help them with all our heart, but it’s so important for them to keep commitments.

There were however a few surprises, like an investigator who he had stopped teaching a while ago that finally came and really liked it. Also we had a little miracle this week. We got permission to do a sporting activity and invited one of our investigators, who plays basketball, and his team to come and play at the church. Unfortunately it rained all day and they didn’t come. On our way back to the house we realized that Elder R had left the keys inside and we have no spares. We went downstairs (we live on the 3d floor) to see if we could find the owner or anything. A lady walked by on her way out and said, Hi Elders. We asked if she knew how we could get a key or anything and she said that they were on their way to the plaza where there was a locksmith and that we could go with them. As we were walking we asked who she was etc and how she knew the Elders. Turns out that all her kids are baptized and she and her husband at one time were going to get baptized but they couldn’t work out the papers for him to be legally separated from his first wife and for the 2 to get married. They said that they finally got it organized but by that time the missionaries had already stopped coming and they lost contact with the church. They were excited to talk to us and we are now going to visit them (probably today) and start teaching them again. All because we just happened to do a sporting activity that day, we got rained out, and forgot the keys. Otherwise we would have had no idea... and they live on the floor below us. The Lord really puts people in your path and prepares the way if you are ready.

Well everything else is going great here. Don’t worry mom we are eating well and I take lots of pictures. Elder Soria is a really good cook so we often get together as a district and cook etc. It has rained every day for about 2 weeks now and we both left our umbrellas at members houses so the weather has been a challenge but we are doing the best we can and are excited to start another 6 weeks. I spent some time today setting some goals for the transfer as far as studying and other stuff like service and ways to improve in teaching and efficiency etc.

Today for P day we went to the Coliseum here and watched a few girls basketball games (supposedly our investigator Jordy was going to play but there were only girls teams). If you think 9th grade girls are bad at basketball in the US you should see them here haha just kidding. But it was at least nice to hear the sounds of a gym etc. Well fam all is great; I can’t believe they already have my plane tickets! Much love and till next time, Elder Barnard

New Coming Home Date - August 18, 2010

I can't believe it but they just found out that they will be flying home on August 18, 2010. They left on August 21, 2008 - I don't know where the time has gone.


I laughed when I saw this picture. The arrow is pointing to a clean white sock. He had mentioned once before that they sweat so much that he keeps a sock in his pocket to mop his brow. I suggested that he buy some handkerchiefs. I don't think he has.

April 12, 2010
Well today I am writing from a disobedient keyboard so forgive my spelling errors or random spaces. It’s been quite a good week here in Sogamoso. Here it’s a great climate, just a little bit warm to wear suits so we just work in normal white shirts. The only problem this week is that it has been raining like crazy every single day. After nearly 20 months I finally broke out my rain jacket from Mr. Mac's but I left my umbrella at a member’s house so we have been getting soaking wet.

Amazingly all of my clothes are still ok. My 2 pairs of Ecco shoes are in excellent condition and my other pair is suffering a little but I think they will make it. All of my suits, pants and shirts are fine although some of my white shirts aren’t AS white as they used to be.
We have been working very hard this week and it has been a great week. We have taught a lot of lessons etc. and the investigators FINALLY came to church and really liked it. We are hopeful to have 5 baptisms on the 24th depending on their progress. That is the goal and we will do our best to help them get there.

Here in Sogamoso there are 2 areas, one for each ward and chapel. Our chapel is the stake center for the Duitama stake so it’s very big and nice and the other chapel is little and not so nice. Anyway a family who lives out of town but technically belongs to the other area and has been talking with the other missionaries, came to our ward Sunday because it’s closer to them. They are going to move to Bogotá in a month to start preparing travel stuff to go live in Montreal Canada. They say Canada wants more young families so the government will pay them to go live there with their young children. Anyway they love the church and want to be baptized before they leave so it looks like my companion and I are going to start teaching them as well and see if they can be baptized before leaving.

I had to laugh when I read Kaydee Browns letter. She was so excited to have found three investigators in one week in Denmark. It really is interesting to see how in one part of the world people are so easy going and easy to talk to and in others they are more closed. I have to admire her and missionaries there where it’s harder to find people. I remember weeks in Barranca where we found 20 plus new investigators who invited us to talk to them but then wouldn’t progress.

I sent Elder Soria the letter you wrote mom and he told me some amazing news. The other day President Hacking called him and told him that his mom had called him. She was now working in Spain, had got in contact with the missionaries and was BAPTIZED. haha She sent him some money and it sounds like she is writing him now. He said he could feel the spirit when he read your letter mom, and thanks a ton.

I finished a week early my goal of reading the New Testament this transfer so now I am focusing lots on studying Preach My Gospel more and I want to read Jesus The Christ which is way good.

This week we have interviews with the President which will be nice. President Hacking always helps me get a good spiritual boost and keep looking for ways to improve.

I really like the example you had in your letter mom. I always try to be positive in my letters and although I love the mission like no other, it obviously has discouraging moments. The other day I was praying and thinking about things and the words of President Hinckley’s dad came into my mind, forget yourself and go to work. So I have really been trying to focus on that saying, especially when lessons fall through or we have to run through the rain with wet shoes etc. And it really has helped.
Overall I am loving life and trying my best to be my best. Well I am about out of time but I love you fam and I hope all is well where you are, until next time. Elder Barnard

P.S. Also we have talked to President Hacking about college. Our release date was August 26th but he says we should fly home on August 20th instead (those of my group who need to meet college starting dates). Actually today they were taking out the flight plans because they always do them very early - scary thought, they are already booking our flights! I also sent you a letter from BYU. Thanks. Love Will

Great Conference

April 5, 2010
Dear Family.
All is well in Sogamoso and it has been another great week. Now that I am a little more settled into the area etc. time is absolutely flying again like it always seems to. This week has been a productive one and the conference was great.

We spent more time this week with the Elders from the other area of Sogamoso. The conference was broadcast in our chapel so they stayed at our apartment from Saturday till Monday. We also did splits one day with them so I worked with Elder Soria in his area etc. The other companionship is a funny pair. The DL is Elder Soria from Brazil. He was born in Brazil and then when he was a teenager he moved to Bolivia. His first language is Portuguese so his Spanish is a little weird but sometimes I have him teach me words in Portuguese. He has 15 months in the mission and is a convert of 2 years. While I was Assistant, his family basically rejected him because they are from another church and his mom wrote him and told him that when he got back, his stuff would be in a neighbor’s house and he had no need to go back to his home. So he has had some tough times but it’s his first time as DL and he is trying very hard to do his best. Elder Soria asked me lots of questions for advice etc. and we talked a lot during the splits. Anyway that’s a little bit about our district.

Elder Quispe was in our area earlier in his mission so while he was with my comp they went to see some old investigators and started teaching them again. We have now visited them a few times and have been teaching them more. They are very excited. We actually invited them to prepare for a baptism date on the 24th and they accepted, but problems came up this weekend and they couldn’t go to the conference so we will have to see. But we are very excited to have found them and to have a family that has a desire to progress, hopefully they can gain a testimony and come along. We also have another family that we are teaching who seems very good from Barranquilla and a 21 year old kid who says he would like to go on a mission so we are working hard and hoping they will progress.

Elder R and I have decided to focus on faith (as one of the Christ like attributes from PMG) so this week we did a special fast to have stronger faith and testimonies and it was a very spiritual experience. I set goals to read the whole New Testament and Preach My Gospel during this transfer so I use my study time and also read a little every night. As of now I am way ahead and if I keep going consistently I should finish them easily. It has really helped because I know lots of scriptures from the Bible that I use to teach. It has also improved my testimony of the Book of Mormon and really how much clearer it is.

The Conference was awesome. As a missionary, conference is like the NBA finals of the super bowl of your life so its always exciting when it comes and I learned a lot. I loved President Monson's talks; he talks about simple things but makes you realize they are the important things. But all the talks were good, especially the Sunday Morning session was great.

It’s raining here and today for Pday we took a bus to a place called Lago Tota (Tota Lake). It’s a lake up in the mountains and has white sand like a beach and it has reeealy beautiful scenery. So we rented a boat and went for a nice swim and enjoyed the beach... haha ok just kidding. I had you nervous. We kept a good distance from the water but I got some good pictures and it’s good to get to know the culture and the sites etc.

Well I am about to head out. Things are going great and I am enjoying very much my mission and trying maybe harder than ever to do the best I can. It’s amazing how fast the time goes so I am trying to progress as much as possible and do as much as possible. It's hard to know if you’re progressing because it is so subjective, but I hope so and I am trying to improve.

I love you family, I always pray for you and I hope you are well. I am very happy. Talk to ya next week. Love Will