January 31, 2011

Yeah really when there is nothing to talk about its because I forgot to write something down during the week. woops. But.... This week I did write stuff down! So we have been working to get a real map done for the area here. Its about 7 large pages (blown up to be wall size) and its colored according to the zones. Now I have that on back burner, as I was also trying to get the apartment ready to move in 2 other elders. They were living in their area, but until the get a new apartment they were stuck with the same two pairs of clothes and washing one and wearing the other each day, and not being able to study, because they had no desk. So we checked out the situation in ours and moved all of our stuff into one room and we then lost almost a day bringing them in and repairing the pension (the mission did a lot of that, but still you have to be there for repairmen) then waited for them to come, and moved them in and well now we have 4 elders in our apartment. Really its to do two things. One to show that we can actually have 4 here because we desperately need 2 more elders here. and to help out a friend (Elder Loader) who was stuck in the way too small apartment, but now is here. Good news is that on some days (since there is very little to be done in their area) they help us. Sweet.
Wednesday I did an intercambio (exchange/division) with an elder who has 2 transfers in the mission and 15 baptisms!!!! His name is Elder Trujillo and he is from Colombia. He is super cool and is just full of excitement for this work and love for the people. Its contagious. He also told some great stories about how his uncle is involved in the cocaine industry and how its all done and stuff along with the guerrilla war. Colombia is pretty messed up. Hey Sarah which mission did Chad serve in? I kinda wonder if he met this elder before.

And then on friday we did a splash with the zone leaders and we found about 15 people in a day. Thats easier with 4 elders. and it shows how much work is available to get done. in the area. Way fun... hhahaha.

Ok so that was the general activity of the week. oh and getting Elsa baptized. Tuesday we went by to see if we could give her one last shot to get ready for her interview. She was more than ready. We taught her about President Monson, and that was all she was missing. Everything else she had learned from reading and praying and coming to church. She had seemed like someone that learns very slow and doesnt understand. Well she just absorbs everything and then doesnt know how to spit it back in the moment. So we asked her the baptismal questions and she had the answers. It was great. I baptized her yesterday just after Stake Conference, with the stake president, and President Salas present. It was great as they (the presidents) bore their testimonies afterward.

Also we decided that my comp is Gilligan of Gilligans Island, and that I am the Skipper. He is just a little ball of fluff and happiness. He is optimism, and gets really excited about little things (like the map) Its just funny because I am grumpy and bossy sometimes.
Other than that I got to have my interview with President after the baptism. Its great to be able to talk with him. He is there to help us and well it was to saw the least enlightening. I will let you know the results of how that works out next week or later. Really this week just makes me feel content with the work I am doing. I have tons to do and no time to do it, and its just insane. Im going and doing.

Well Im out until next week. =)

Con Amor
Elder Ben