Week 38 roller coaster week!

Trek is super awesome one of the greatest things I have experinced! I hope you like your new calling whatever it is , and Im sure you will do a marvelous job! And harvest hasnt even started yet jaja , good luck :) That is cool that Melanie and Johnny have the opportunity to work in the  temple for a few weeks,  that would be so cool. 

Anyways so this week has been a roller coaster ride in Colombia...

Martes Lots of Rain like all day, then we had a lesson with S* which was good he only needs a few more lessons and he has a baptism date for the 8th of august. Also we finally made conatct with a less active family, they are really awesome and have desires to come back to church but the dad works as one of the head policeman so he works Sundays as well, so that is a little hard. Anyways they have a super crazy dog that literally bounces off walls and runs off the couches , and it is like the littlest dog ever so that is kind of funny.

Miercoles: We had a district meeting, then later in the day went to visit the family B* but we couldn't go in because her spouse wasn't home , but we ended up giving her a blessing outside her house because she has been feeling sick. Then we went to the church to teach english which went alright definitely not my favorite thing to do pero bueno.Then we had a Noche de bariio which the Elders Quorm was in charge of but like usual no one showed up from the Elders Quorm so luckily the single Adults helped out and explained Lehi's dream so that was good.

Jueves : After lunch we had a lesson with a less active , and A* was able to come with us, and now he is officially rescued too!!! The Family N*  is one step closer to the Templo!!! :) I love that family they are super awesome !

Viernes: We had interviews with the President which went super well , he is way nice and helped me alot, he basically told me to keep leading by example and all these things it was good! I was glad I could talk with him. 

Sabado: a lot of stress!!!!! So we didn't end up leaving the house until 2pm because , the other Elders had a meeting in Bucaramga , But luckily at lunch it took a little bit of stress away. So later we had a lesson with a young man but he is very strong in his own beliefs in recarnation. and he is over obsessed with animal rights, so we didn't really get far with the lesson , because most of the time he was talking about how everyone should be vegetarian, but we will see God works mircales! :) Also Pidecuesta is celebrating its cumpleaños this week , so there is a big party in the central park every night filled with people and we have to go through it like every night , but we have been safe. 

Domingo: We had a huge almurezo (lunch) almost couldn't eat it all, but I did , I had to take the dessert to go becasue I was too full jaja. Then we went to church which was really good lots of peace , which I needed! 

Scripture: Alma 22:15 ( what are we willing to give up from the world to come closer to God?) 

 Anyways I love you all so much have a great week enjoy your last month of summer , make the most of it ! keep being awesome examples to your friends and everyone around you! 

Love , 

Elder Strong

Ps Mom In my next package I would like ties that are cheap , so that I can give to people who don't have ties , also deoderant and tooth paste. 

Week 37

Sounds like not that great of week for those who got sick I hope you all feel better fast. I am also glad that Mom survived twilight camp! jaja :) Trek is this week. Jacob and Seth will have such a great experience. That is one of the best experiences  I have a had in my life,I for sure got a stronger testimony. So you guys are switching to Chico 1st Ward that is crazy but that is cool that Bishop Meyer will still be the Bishop. the Young men will be blessed to have great leaders and examples! Tell bishop I would love some of his Candy from his office , I miss sundays in class just talking about the Gospel and eating Candy jaja. And Seth spend more time with the Fam, that is definitely one of my regrets I wish I would of took advantage of before I left, so learn my mistakes and enjoy the family! 

Anyways so this week in Colombia....

Miercoles: Lots of Patience with my Comp so it was the one of  first days of the new Cambio and  we had a zone conference so we had to leave early like at 8:30 from our house to recharge are bus cards , and then meet our district, and what time did we leave the house thats right at 9:05 Pailas!!! So we were almost late to the meeting , but luckily a miracle happened and we made it exactly when it started. Anyways the meeting was all on Unity with our companions. Well lets just say I think God was talking to me! 

We didn't have a single lesson this day 

Jueves well my Companion got up for comapnion study , but right after he went back to the room , I thought he went to use the bathroom , but when I went to check on him I found him sleeping , so we didn't have time to do our weekly planning that day. Anyways we did have a good lesson at the end of the Day with Erika y Julio they are working on getting married so that is aweome! 

Viernes : We had a lesson in the morning with a security guard , Then we passed by to see how Erkia was doing and to inform her about a new job,because she is looking for a job. Anyways we were able to share a video with her about having children in the gospel , because she had a question about it. Then it started to rain so we went to a recent converts apartment they just moved in the Ward but still haven't been to church so we had a good lesson with the bishop about alma 47 one of my favorite chapters in the book of mormon. 

Sabado: I woke up sneezing a ton , I have a small cold but not too bad, anyways we had lesson with the family Saurez they are super awesome references from members and they love the church, and everything about it ! 

Domingo: So there were alot trucks honking their horns because I guess it is some Catholic hoilday here in Colombia , in church the talks were on indexing and family history work, then after all of it Julian, a Young man opened his misión call , and he is going to Brazil so that is way cool he is an awesome Young man one of my really good Friends here he will make a great missionary , I gave him a tie , which he wore Sunday ! Also they talked about Marriage and the family in Priesthood , Que Trunky!! Ya tanticojaja, but it was good because Hno Núñez gave the class. Also after church it was raining super hard my suit got soaked , and the calles were like ríos , super tenas! But I survived so no se preocupe :) 

Hoy : you know it we played Futbol !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! which was awesome , also there was a man visting from Salt lake because he lived here until he was twelve then went to the US , but it was cool I was able to talk with him for a while about the things that are different between the two countries, and we were able to talk in english jaja.:) 

Anyways I hope you guys feel better and have a better week. Also the spinner there are strings in side them and you wrap it around the spinner and through it at the ground , you can look on YouTube and see if you can find a video that can help  you, all the kids play with them here its like yoyos to them , so hopefully they can figure it out ! :) Im glad that you got the package though! :) Have a great week love you guys.

Elder Strong 

Scripture Alma 47 relate to tempations :)

Week 36, baptism and I am staying here another transfer

Zero cavities is always good especially for Jared. And Hopefully kaydens arm will heal pretty fast so he can get back to swimming and everything and enjoy his last half of summer.

Thats cool that Zach and Melanie are back , it seems just like yesterday I was in high school with them. But that is cool they were able to talk about their missions, does Melanie have a crazy mexican accent or was it difficult for her to speak ?That would be cool if Bishop was still your guys bishop he is a really awesome Bishop! Were you guys bowling with bumpers ? haha

Yeah good luck with twlight camp haha.

Okay so this week in Colombia...

Martes: We went to the Family P* house and they made us Empanadas which were way good! Than we had a lesson with C* to prep her for her Bautismo , then later in the night we taught the plan of slavation to a part member family so that was good!

Mericoles : was our meeting with the new president. It when really well. On theway  there the 6 of us crammed into a smalll taxi again that was a little uncomfortable but toca. Anyways after 45 mins we finally arrived , and my left leg had gone completely a sleep to the point  I couldn't feel it so when i stepped out of the taxi I almost fell on my face. Anyways then we got to meet our new president , President Laney he seems really cool and he is pretty young, I feel really bad for his wife because she knows absolutely nothing in Spanish, but I guess she has 3 years :) 

Jueves :  there was a baptism by some one in the other ward but we went with one of our investigators it was really cool , because the little boy that was baptized his family lives  in a country where there's no religious freedom so , they meet in secret to have services , then they came all the way here to have the baptism which was super cool , and a great story of faith!  Then later we had a lesson with the family A* and then with S* and her daughter J*. 

Viernes: We had lunch with E*'s mom which was good she gave us pasta , then we were able to share a message with her. Then I came home and was kind of stressed alittle , but luckily I had bought a Dr.Pepper earlier in the week when we were in Bucaramanga so that was super good! Also we went to the chapel so Elder Lindley could interview C* and while we were waiting Anderson made a  paper airplane out of a large old poster in the church , it looked legit , butcouldn't  fly it to save his life.Anyways C* Passed!!! Then we had a lesson with S* and now he has a bapitsm date for the 1st of August. 

Sabado : in the morning we cleaned the house , then the rest of the day we were preparing for the baptism , then the baptism went super well!!! IT was super awesome !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Then later we came home and I made no bake cookies! :) 

Domingo: Went to church it was good , A* showed up with his tie I gave him looking tan guapo ! Then in a primary class they had the missionaries come in speak a little about the mission , and then they gave us pictures they drew that said Gracias por su servicio , super cool ! 

Hoy : we went and played Futbol before Elder Lindley had to leave. He is going to Bogata to be a zone leader which is cool , and a missioanry from peru is coming here , which means I'll be the only gringo here in Piedecuesta !!! No more gringo power! But Idon't know I guess we are going to see how things go. At the end of this Cambio I will have been here for 6 months almost in this area super crazy , like a 4th of my mission ! that is weird but cool ! 

Anyways things that made me  : Bautismo , Clase de Ingles, Dr.pepper, A* with his airplane , Playing soccer

Scripture: Joshua Chapter 3 talks about faith super cool story !!! 

Thanks for all the support and prayers I appreciate them very much ! Have a great week Family love you guys !

Elder Strong 

P.S did you get a package , it should arrive in the office sometime. 

Week 35 we had a great week!

Wow that sounds like quite the week there , that is super crazy , and hopefully Kayden will be able to recover fast , so he can swim and do all that fun stuff ! At least did he learn to be more obedient ? jaja? Campiing and hiking sounds like a fun weekend ! And fourth of July too! And Dads Bday!!!

Anyways so another week in the Work of  the Lord...

Martes: I had intercambios with Elder Lindley our District leader, when I first met him I didn't really like his personality, but now he is like one of my best friends , and I can talk to him with about anything , and just get a lot of stress out, so that is really good to have a friend like him in the mission, he also gives a lot of really great advice , and he is a great example to me. So that was good to have a day with him. Gringo POWER !!! Jaja 

Miercoles: We had a Reunion de districto  it was good , then we had a lesson with C*  and she is so excited for her baptism she moved it up to this coming Saturday Im so excited for her and her choice to follow Jesus Christ !! Also we went and visited E* and she was telling us how the night before she was hearing noises in  the house , and the next moring there were chairs moved and the shower water was dripping , she and her sister are convinced their is a wierd engery in their house , then she continued to tell us all these stories about spirits and things and I was trying to catch on to what she was saying because she speaks fast and a lot , and then my comp yelled and grabbed my leg and I jumped like 5 feet in the air :P that was kind of mean , but we were all laughing.

Jueves we did a lot of walikng , but we went to talk with Anderson and he is starting to work on his mission papers and he wants to go on more visits with us !!!! Super chevere !!! 

Viernes Feliz Cumplamos to Dad also I helped and old lady carry a large potted plant so that was cool, then we had a lesson with los vecinos de J* which was cool , but we had a bit of tech problems but eventually we were able to watch the video of the first vision. And they accepted our invitation to read the book of Mormon so that was goood!

Sabodo Fourth of July !!! I Was starting to get sick , plus I was beginning my fast  ; so Chile one the Copa America in penalty kicks my Companion ( Agrentino) wasn't to happy about that jaja. Also went over to J* house to give her mom a blessing because she was feeling sick and we were able to share a small message with them , with J*

Domingo: Fasting , almost died of thirst , and sickness , super weak, luckily I could sleep a little longer , because we now have church at 2pm . Also Hno. I* N*came to our house seeing if he could borrow a tie and shirt for church that was cool . And all of his family came to church even his wife !! She has recommited her self to come back to church! Also the kids of Family A* showed up by them selves because their parents were working so that was awesome!!! 

Hoy: we played futbol with a bunch of the JAS and investigators, then we went bowling as a district , then we ate pizza at Dominos !!! I haven't had pizza for a while so that was awesome ; and playing soccer was super great too! 

Well I hope you guys have a great week , looks like Seth can focus a little  more on the mission for two weeks jaja, and I hope Kayden gets well soon ; also let me Know when we guys recieve a package !<

Love you all so much !,

Elder Strong :) 

Scritpure : Alma 13 : 3